GEO200 Lecture 10: World Regional Geography PDF

WELCOME TO GEO-200 World Regional Geography Dr. Fatmaelzahraa Hussein Visiting Faculty -CHSS ( A ssista nt Pro fe sso r) Lecture 10  Lecture-10 A Geographic Profile of THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA  Lecture-10 Lecture Objectives I...

WELCOME TO GEO-200 World Regional Geography Dr. Fatmaelzahraa Hussein Visiting Faculty -CHSS ( A ssista nt Pro fe sso r) Lecture 10  Lecture-10 A Geographic Profile of THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA  Lecture-10 Lecture Objectives Is To : 1. Explore U.S. and Canada region and Sub regions 2. Explore U.S. and Canada region Population, Climates and Biomes. 3. Understand U.S. and Canada region Land use. 4. Understand U.S. and Canada region Culture, Languages and Ethnicity. 5. Understand U.S. and Canada region Economic Geography 6. Understand U.S. and Canada region Geopolitical Geography  Lecture-10 U.S. and Canada Region: Area and Population Canada is only slightly larger in area than the U.S. Canada & U.S. share world’s longest int’l border (5,527 mi) Population ◦ United States 311 Million (2011) ◦ Canada 34 Million (2011) ◦ Together, the countries have 5% of the world’s population on 13% of its land surface 90% of Canadians live within 100 miles of U.S. border Canadians and Americans are overwhelmingly urban ◦ 79% of Canadians and Americans are city dwellers ◦ Megalopolis (“Boswash”) is home to 1 out of 7 Americans (or roughly 14% of the U.S. population). ◦ 500-mile-long narrow, urban belt from Boston to Washington  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: Migration into North America Nations of Immigrants Due to immigration, the U.S. is the only MDC in the world that is experiencing significant population growth Each year, nearly a million legal immigrants arrive in the U.S. and over 280,000 arrive in Canada. Estimated 11 million illegal immigrants live in the U.S. Controversy of Illegal Immigration in U.S. Fear of immigrants taking jobs and bleeding social services Others argue low-wage immigrants are vital for the American economy, taking jobs shunned by most Americans, while contributing to the economy through their purchases  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: Physical Geography-Landforms and Land Uses Remarkably diverse natural environments ◦ Some of most spectacular wild landscapes on the planet ◦ Present people with a vast array of opportunities for land use and settlement It is important to consider how these landforms have promoted or hindered human uses and how climates have also done the same Major Landforms 1. Greenland 2. Canadian Shield 7. Rocky Mountains 3. Appalachian Mountains 8. Columbia Plateau 4. Piedmont 9. Great Basin 5. Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains 10. Pacific Mountain Ranges 6. Great Plains 11. Arctic Coastal Plain  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: Natural Hazards 1. Earthquakes : along the San Andreas Fault 2. Volcanoes: in the Cascade Range 3. The Midwest Tornados: As “Tornado Alley” 4. Hurricanes batter: the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico 5. Blizzards: in the U.S. Midwest and Northeast 6. Droughts (1930s “Dust Bowl”)  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: Climates The U.S. has more climatic types than any other country in the world, and even Canada is quite varied. EX. : Tundra (Canada and Alaska) Subarctic (Canada and Alaska) Humid Continental (Midwest) Tropical Rain Forest (Hawaii) Mediterranean (Central and Southern California) The most dominant climate in the U.S. and Canada region is the temperate climate, particularly the humid continental climate.  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: Biomes The most dominant biome in the U.S. and Canada region is the temperate mixed forest biome, which is a mix of both deciduous and coniferous forest.  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: ​Cultural and Historical Geographies Migrations of Native Americans into the Region Began their migrations as Asians Started crossing what was then a land bridge between Alaska and Siberia at least 12,500 years ago (possibly as early as 33,000 years ago) Migration persisted until about 3,000 years ago  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: Native American Civilizations Similarities to Indigenous Cultures of Latin America ◦ Some developed civilizations, the rather complex, agriculture-based ways of life associated with permanent or semipermanent settlements and stratified societies Dominant Native American Civilizations ◦ Anasazi (1200 B.C.E. – 1300 C.E.) ◦ Mogollon (300 B.C.E. – 1400 C.E.) ◦ Hohokam (100 B.C.E. – 1500 C.E.) Mound Builder Civilizations ◦ Poverty Point (2000 B.C.E. – 200 C.E.) ◦ Adena (2000 B.C.E. – 200 C.E.) ◦ Hopewell ( 200 B.C.E. – 700 C.E.) ◦ Mississippian ( 700 C.E. – 1700 C.E.) Anasazi Pueblo Dwelling in Arizona  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: Indigenous Culture Groups & Lifeways Seven Native American Language Families (represented by more than 250 languages) 1. Aztec-Tanoan 2. Hokan-Siouan 3. Penutian 4. Mosan 5. Algic 6. Na-Dene 7. Eskimo-Aleut A trait apparently shared by most of the Native American groups was their deep reverence for the natural world  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: ​European Impacts on Native Cultures Narratives of what took place in North America following 1492 Europeans: Times of settlement, development, taming the frontier, and “civilizing the savages” Native Americans: Times of depopulation and cultural demolition Canada Native American peoples refer to themselves as the First Nations in acknowledgement of their pre-Columbian claims to the land In 1999, Canada ceded ¼ of its total area to the Inuit peoples in creating the territory of Nunavut United States Native American Reservations (“The Res”) Home to 1/3 of Native Americans today Among poorest communities of the country  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: ​Ethnic Groups Minorities comprise about 1/3 of the U.S. population 16% are Hispanic (50 million) 13% are African Americans (39 million) 4% are Asian Americans Hispanics overtook blacks as the largest minority in the United States after the 2000 Census Future lack of a majority ◦ By 2040s, non-Hispanic whites to drop below 50% of US population  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: ​ ​Nonindigenous Languages & Faiths Language English and French are Canada’s official languages U.S. does not have an official language (English spoken by 96% of its residents) “Spanglish” Hybrid tongue of Spanish and English  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: Religions Laws guarantee religious freedoms in both nations Both countries predominantly Christian Largest single denomination is Roman Catholicism 43% in Canada / 26% in the United States Other monotheistic faiths in the U.S. 5 million Jews and 1 million Muslims Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the U.S.  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: ​Economic Geography The U.S. and Canada are very wealthy nations United States $ 45,640 GNI PPP Canada $ 37,280 GNI PPP Where the United States ranks: World’s largest economy World’s largest producer and consumer of goods/services World’s largest federal foreign debt World’s largest national debt With about 5% of the world’s population, the U.S. has a third of the world’s wealth The “average” American has been going nowhere economically for a number of years, due to inflation 15% of Americans (46 million) are considered poor  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: ​ ​Sources of the Region’s Affluence Keys to Region’s Affluence Large endowments of important natural assets Large population represents pool of labor and talent as well as a market Mechanised economies Peace and stability within and between these countries Overall sense of internal unity and track record of continuity in political, economic, and cultural institutions Imbalance in the Distribution of National Wealth Wealthiest 1% of Americans take in 20% of country’s total income Poorest 10% of Americans take in less than 2% of total income While 15% of Americans live below the poverty line, less than 10% of Canadians are below its poverty line However, this is a region where most people enjoy the “good life”  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: ​An Abundance of Resources U.S. and Canada resemble European environments and their potential for production of wheat, cattle, and other products Largest food-exporting region of the world ◦ U.S. has more arable land than any other country ◦ A much smaller proportion of Canada is arable, but it has more farmable land than many other countries Resource Rich: ◦ Forests (Canada is world’s largest exporter of wood) ◦ Mineral Resources ◦ Energy Resources ◦ Oil (Including Shale Gas) Canadian Timber En Route to East Asia ◦ Natural Gas  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: ​An Abundance of Resources (Cont.) ​Principal U.S. Shale Gas Reserves Tar Sands Locations in Canada  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region:​Mechanization, Services, and IT Transition to Service Sector / Information Technology ◦ Although raw materials contribute much to their wealth, the U.S. and Canada have become prosperous because of machines and mechanical energy, complemented by a boom in IT. ◦ Most Americans and Canadians employed in service sector ◦ Finance, Medical Care, Retail Sales, Entertainment, etc. ◦ Manufacturing now only accounts for 10% of U.S. economy ◦ Rust Belt ◦ U.S. profits from a “knowledge economy” ◦ Designing products, but not making them  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: ​U.S. & Canadian Economic Relations Vital Trading Partners Canada is much more dependent on the U.S. Canada is the leading country in total trade with the U.S. Main pattern of trade is the exchange of Canadian raw and intermediate materials for American manufactured goods Economic Disputes Wheat War Salmon War Lumber Dumping Despite occasional disagreements, the trend has been toward more cooperation and free trade Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (1988) North American Free Trade Agreement (1994)  Lecture-10 ​U.S. and Canada Region: Geopolitical Issues-The U.S. Place in the World U.S. displays its power through military action and trade Isolationism ◦ Geographic advantage of being far away from world’s hot spots ◦ Entered both world wars late Attacks of September 11, 2001 ◦ Policy of Preemptive Engagement U.S. remains world’s sole superpower ◦ Strongest economy ◦ Military expenditures larger than those of next 14 countries combined ◦ Dominance of global popular culture ◦ World’s best universities ◦ Headquarters to many of the world’s leading international organizations  Lecture-10 Now you should be able to: 1. Identify U.S. and Canada region and Sub regions 2. Explain U.S. and Canada region Population, Climates and Biomes. 3. Explain U.S. and Canada region Land use. 4. Explain U.S. and Canada region Culture, Languages and Ethnicity. 5. Explain U.S. and Canada region Economic Geography 6. Explain U.S. and Canada region Geopolitical Geography Thank You For any questions: [email protected]