CONTENTS FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE PRAIRIES 4 OLD ROCKS RICH RESOURCES 6 10 FIRST PEOPLES NEWCOMERS AND INVADERS 12 14 UNITED WE STAND OH CANADA 16 STATES AND PROVINCES 18 URBAN AREAS 20 WATERS OF NORTH AMERICA 22 WIDE-OPEN SPACES 24 A DIVERSITY OF DISASTERS 26 IN THE FUTURE 28 GLOSSARY 30 FOR MORE INFORMATION 31 INDEX 32
FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE PRAIRIES Perhaps the most notable geographic trait of the United This variety has affected the origin development and economies States and Canada the two countries that make up the majority of the continent of North America is that there isn’t a single trait Their shared area is marked by huge variety in landforms and other physical characteristics climate and precipitation of both countries The richness of the land’s resources has made the United States and Canada two of the wealthiest countries in the world They have other things in common as well including a democratic background language and many aspects of culture to dry deserts the geography of these two countries encompasses all the major types of biomes in the world From tall mountains to sprawling plains and from wet rain forests A STATE APART Two U S states are separated geographically from the rest of the country Alaska is at the far northwestern part of North America Hawaii however is in the middle of the central Pacific Ocean It’s made up of eight major islands and more than 100 islets or small islands The islands are volcanic Loa on the main island of Hawaii is the world’s largest volcano and there’s still a lot of volcanic activity in Hawaii today Mauna 4
5 THINK LIKE A GEOGRAPHER THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA AREN'T THE ONLY COUNTRIES THAT MAKE UP NORTH AMERICA GREENLAND MEXICO AND MANY OTHER SMALLER COUNTRIES ARE CONSIDERED PART OF THE CONTINENT Though they're two different countries the United States and Canada can both claim one notable landmark Niagara Falls
