NORTH AMERICA Short Description
Continent Size:
24,474,000 sq km
9,449,460 sq miles
Percent of Earth's Land: 16.5%
Population: 501,500,00
Major Landforms
ALASKA RANGE
Mountains of south-central Alaska, they extend from the Alaska Peninsula to the border of the Yukon Territory, Canada.
The highest point in North America, Mt. McKinley, 20,320 ft. (6,194 meters) is located here.
APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS
The Appalachians, about 1,500 miles in length, extend from central Alabama in the U.S. up through the New England states and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Quebec.
Significant ranges include the Cumberland Mts. in Tennessee, the Blue Ridge Mts. in Virginia, the Alleghenies in Pennsylvania, the Catskills Mts. in New York, the Green Mts. in Vermont and the White Mts. of New Hampshire.
The highest point is Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina at 6,684 ft (2,037 meters).
BROOKS RANGE
Mountains of northern Alaska. Highest point is Mt. Isto, 9,060 ft. (2,760 meters)
CANADIAN SHIELD
This plateau region of eastern and northern Canada and the Great Lakes area of North America mainly includes rough and rocky surfaces, and large areas of coniferous (evergreen) forests. In addition, the northern regions along the Arctic Circle are comprised of rocky frozen tundra. The highest elevation is estimated at 1,640 ft (500 meters)
CASCADES
A mountain range stretching from northeastern California across Oregon and Washington.
Major peaks included Mt. Hood, Mt. Ranier and Mt. St. Helens.
COAST RANGE
Mountains running along the Pacific Ocean coastlines of California, Oregon, Washington
They also extend along the western border of British Columbia, Canada, and the southern edge of Alaska, all the way to Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak Island
COASTAL PLAIN
This area of the southern and southeastern U.S extends to the continental shelve and is generally characterized by level (flat) land with assorted mixed forests. The coastal areas include bayous, deltas, marshes, mud flats and swamps.
CONTINENTAL DIVIDE
In North America, the Western Continental Divide is an imaginary line that sits atop a continuous ridge of mountain summits that divide the continent into two main drainage areas. Details and map here.
GREAT PLAINS
The fertile Great Plains of North America slope east from the Rockies and extend to the edge of the Canadian Shield and the western edges of the Appalachians. The land is generally smooth with large treeless areas and sloping shallow river valleys. Minor hills and mountains are found in the Ozark Plateau of Missouri, and in the Boston Mountains and Ouachita Mountains of northwestern Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. Sandhills and buttes cover parts of the north central U.S. (in Nebraska).
