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Encyclopedic Entry

North America: Physical Geography

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North America, the third-largest continent, extends from the tiny Aleutian Islands in the northwest to the Isthmus of
Panama in the south. The continent includes the enormous island of Greenland in the northeast and the small
island countries and territories that dot the Caribbean Sea and western North Atlantic Ocean. In the far north, the
continent stretches halfway around the world, from Greenland to the Aleutians. But at Panama’s narrowest part,
the continent is just 50 kilometers (31 miles) across.

North America’s physical geography, environment and resources, and human geography can be considered
separately.

North America can be divided into five physical regions: the mountainous west, the Great Plains, the Canadian
Shield, the varied eastern region, and the Caribbean. Mexico and Central America’s western coast are connected
to the mountainous west, while its lowlands and coastal plains extend into the eastern region.

Within these regions are all the major types of biomes in the world. A biome is a community of animals and plants
spreading over an extensive area with a relatively uniform climate. Some diverse biomes represented in North
America include desert, grassland, tundra, and coral reefs.

Western Region

Young mountains rise in the west. The most familiar of these mountains are probably the Rockies, North America’s
largest chain. The Rockies stretch from the province of British Columbia, Canada, to the U.S. state of New Mexico.

The Rocky Mountains are part of a system of parallel mountain ranges known as the Cordilleras. A cordillera is a
long series of mountain ranges. Although cordilleras exist all over the world, in North America, “the Cordilleras”
indicate the massive mountain ranges in the western part of the continent. The Cordilleras extend from Canada all
the way to the Isthmus of Panama.

The Sierra Madre mountain system is part of the Cordilleras. The Sierra Madre stretch from the southwestern
United States to Honduras. The Sierra Madre include many high volcanoes (up to 5,636 meters, or 18,500 feet)
that stretch across Mexico south of the cities of Guadalajara and Mexico City.

Volcanic mountain ranges in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama are also considered part
of the Cordilleras. Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur frequently in this region. Volcanic activity can destroy
towns and cities. It also contributes to the rich, fertile soils of the region.

Some of the Earth’s youngest mountains are in the Cascade Range of the U.S. states of Washington, Oregon, and
California. Some peaks began to form only about a million years ago—a blink of an eye in Earth’s long history. The
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mountains include temperate rain forest—a biome unique to the area. The temperate rain forest receives an
incredible amount of precipitation, between 254 to 508 centimeters (100 to 200 inches) annually. However, its cool
winters and mild summers promote the growth of mosses, ferns, fungi, and lichens.

The temperate rain forest supports a wide variety of life. The Sitka spruce, western red cedar, and Douglas fir are
trees native to North America’s temperate rain forest. Some of these trees grow to more than 90 meters (300 feet)
tall and 3 meters (10 feet) in diameter. Black bears, Roosevelt elk, and marmots are indigenous animal species.

The three major desert regions of North America—the Sonoran, Mojave, and Chihuahuan—are all in the American
southwest and northern Mexico. These large deserts are located in the rain shadows of nearby mountains. The
mountains block precipitation and accelerate the movement of hot, dry wind over these regions. The Sonoran is in
the rain shadow of the Coast Ranges, the Mojave is in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada, and the Chihuahuan is in
the shadow of the Sierra Madre.

Notable desert plant species includes the saguaro cactus, Joshua tree, and mesquite. Animal species include the
roadrunner, Gila monster, and rattlesnake.

In addition to mountains, deserts, and forests, the northern part of the western region of North America also has
the richest deposits of oil and natural gas on the continent. Most of these deposits are located offshore, in the
Arctic and Pacific Oceans.

Great Plains

The Great Plains lie in the middle of the continent. Deep, rich soil blankets large areas of the plains in Canada and
the United States. Grain grown in this region, called the “Breadbasket of North America,” feeds a large part of the
world. The Great Plains are also home to rich deposits of oil and natural gas.

Much of the fertile soil was formed from material deposited during the most recent glacial period. This ice age
reached its peak about 18,000 years ago. As glaciers retreated, streams of melted ice dropped sediment on the
land, building layers of productive soil.

The grassland or prairie regions of the Great Plains make up the largest biome in North America. Extreme weather
prevents the growth of large plants but is perfectly suited to the native grasses that dominate the region.

Native grasses vary in size from 2 meters (7 feet) in tallgrass prairies to only 20 or 25 centimeters (8 or 10 inches)
in shortgrass prairies. Native animal species include bison, prairie dogs, and grasshoppers.

Canadian Shield

The Canadian Shield is a raised but relatively flat plateau. It extends over eastern, central, and northwestern
Canada. The Canadian Shield is characterized by a rocky landscape pocked by an astounding number of lakes.
The tundra, stretching along the northern borders of Alaska and Canada to the Hudson Bay area, is a biome
common to the Canadian Shield. Tundra is where low temperatures and precipitation levels hinder tree growth.
The tundra is characterized by permafrost—soil that is frozen for two or more years. This permafrost keeps
moisture near the soil’s surface, promoting vegetation growth even in the extreme, Arctic conditions of the tundra.

During the summer, this top layer of soil thaws less than 10 centimeters (only a few inches) down, forming
numerous shallow lakes, ponds, and bogs. Lichens, mosses, algae, and succulents take advantage of these
shallow waters. In turn, they provide food for the caribou and musk ox that are typical of this area.

Eastern Region
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This varied region includes the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic coastal plain.

North America’s older mountain ranges, including the Appalachians, rise near the east coast of the United States
and Canada. These areas have been mined for rich deposits of coal and other minerals for hundreds of years.

The Atlantic coastal plain extends from river, marsh, and wetland regions east of the mountains toward the sandy
beaches of the Atlantic coast. Wetland areas are a biome of the eastern region and consist of areas of land whose
soil is saturated with permanent or seasonal moisture. The Florida Everglades is the largest wetland system in the
United States, covering more than 11,137 square kilometers (4,300 square miles) of southern Florida.

The Everglades is a biologically diverse region and contains several bordering ecosystems. Sawgrass marshes are
the most iconic plant community of the Everglades and thrive on the slow-moving water of the wetlands. Alligators
nest in the sawgrass, while wading birds such as egrets, herons, spoonbills, and ibises make their breeding
grounds in other wetland tree species, such as cypress and mangrove.

Caribbean Region

The Caribbean Region includes more than 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cays. The region’s islands and smaller
islets are varied in their topography; some have relatively flat and sandy terrain while others are rugged,
mountainous, and volcanic.

The coral reefs and cays of the Caribbean Sea are among the most spectacular biomes in North America. A reef is
a ridge of jagged rock, coral, or sand just above or below the surface of the sea. Some coral reefs surround
islands, such as the Bahamas, Antigua, and Barbados. Others are found off the Florida Keys, a chain of cays—
small islands situated on a coral reef platform—near the southern coast of the U.S. state of Florida.

Coral reefs are made of millions of tiny animals—corals—that form a hard shell around their bodies. This hard
surface provides a rich community for algae and plants such as seagrass. Brightly colored tropical fish, as well as
sharks, sea turtles, sea stars, and sea horses, are animals native to the Caribbean’s coral reefs.

Natural Wonders

North America’s varied landscape features many natural wonders. It has deep canyons, such as Copper Canyon in
the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Denali, the continent’s highest peak, stands at 6,194 meters (20,320 feet) within
Denali National Park and Preserve in the U.S. state of Alaska. Yellowstone National Park, in the U.S. states of
Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, has some of the world’s most active geysers. Canada’s Bay of Fundy has the
greatest tidal range in the world. The Great Lakes form the planet’s largest area of freshwater. The Mississippi
River, at 3,730 kilometers (2,320 miles) long, is one of the longest river systems in the world and drains all or parts
of 31 U.S. states.

VOCABULARY

Term Part of Speech Definition

accelerate verb to increase speed or velocity.

Arctic noun region at Earth's extreme north, encompassed by the Arctic Circle.

beach noun narrow strip of land that lies along a body of water.

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biome noun area of the planet which can be classified according to the plant and animal life in it.

bog noun wetland of soft ground made mostly of decaying plant matter.

border noun natural or artificial line separating two pieces of land.

Canadian noun rocky plateau extending through most of northern and central Canada.
shield

cay noun small, low island on a coral reef. Also called a key.

climate noun all weather conditions for a given location over a period of time.

coal noun dark, solid fossil fuel mined from the earth.

coastal plain noun low, flat land lying next to the ocean.

continent noun one of the seven main land masses on Earth.

coral reef noun rocky ocean features made up of millions of coral skeletons.

cordillera noun chain of mountain ranges.

desert noun area of land that receives no more than 25 centimeters (10 inches) of precipitation a
year.

diverse adjective varied or having many different types.

earthquake noun the sudden shaking of Earth's crust caused by the release of energy along fault lines
or from volcanic activity.

ecosystem noun community and interactions of living and nonliving things in an area.

environment noun conditions that surround and influence an organism or community.

Everglades noun vast swampy region flowing south of Lake Okeechobee in Florida.

fertile adjective able to produce crops or sustain agriculture.

forest noun ecosystem filled with trees and underbrush.

freshwater noun water that is not salty.

geyser noun natural hot spring that sometimes erupts with water or steam.

glacial period noun time of long-term lowering of temperatures on Earth. Also known as an ice age.

grassland noun ecosystem with large, flat areas of grasses.

Great Plains noun grassland region of North America, between the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi
River.

hinder verb to delay or hold back.

human noun the study of the way human communities and systems interact with their environment.
geography

iconic adjective event or symbol representing a belief, nation, or community.

indigenous adjective native to or characteristic of a specific place.

island noun body of land surrounded by water.

isthmus noun narrow strip of land connecting two larger land masses.

lake noun body of water surrounded by land.

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lichen noun organism composed of fungus and algae.

marsh noun wetland area usually covered by a shallow layer of seawater or freshwater.

mineral noun inorganic material that has a characteristic chemical composition and specific crystal
structure.

mountain noun series or chain of mountains that are close together.

range

natural gas noun type of fossil fuel made up mostly of the gas methane.

offshore adjective having to do with facilities or resources located underwater, usually miles from the
coast.

oil noun fossil fuel formed from the remains of marine plants and animals. Also known as
petroleum or crude oil.

permafrost noun permanently frozen layer of the Earth's surface.

physical noun study of the natural features and processes of the Earth.
geography

plateau noun large region that is higher than the surrounding area and relatively flat.

prairie noun large grassland; usually associated with the Mississippi River Valley in the United
States.

precipitation noun all forms in which water falls to Earth from the atmosphere.

province noun division of a country larger than a town or county.

rain forest noun area of tall, mostly evergreen trees and a high amount of rainfall.

rain shadow noun dry land on the side of a mountain facing away from prevailing winds.

region noun any area on the Earth with one or more common characteristics. Regions are the
basic units of geography.

resource noun available supply of materials, goods, or services. Resources can be natural or human.

river noun large stream of flowing fresh water.

saturate verb to fill one substance with as much of another substance as it can take.

sediment noun solid material transported and deposited by water, ice, and wind.

soil noun top layer of the Earth's surface where plants can grow.

succulent noun type of plant that has thick leaves and stems for storing water.

temperate adjective moderate.

tidal range noun the difference in height between an area's high tide and low tide.

topography noun study of the shape of the surface features of an area.

tundra noun cold, treeless region in Arctic and Antarctic climates.

volcanic noun activity that includes a discharge of gas, ash, or lava from a volcano.
eruption

weather noun state of the atmosphere, including temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity,
precipitation, and cloudiness.

wetland noun area of land covered by shallow water or saturated by water.

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 wind noun movement of air (from a high pressure zone to a low pressure zone) caused by the
uneven heating of the Earth by the sun.

For Further Exploration

Maps
NG MapMaker Interactive: Land Cover—North and South America
National Geographic Events: Giant Traveling Map of North America
Worksheets & Handouts
USGS: Tree Species Distribution Maps for North America
Websites
National Geographic Travel: North America
National Geographic Environment: Expedition Blue Planet—North America

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