North America Geography, Climate, Population & Culture

Vocabulary terms covering the physical geography, climate regions, migration factors, and cultural diversity of North America.

Great Lakes

Five large freshwater lakes located between the United States and Canada, remembered by the acronym HOMES.

HOMES

An acronym representing the five Great Lakes: Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.

Lake Michigan

The only Great Lake that is located completely inside the United States.

Mississippi River

One of the longest rivers in the world and the longest major river system in the United States, beginning in Minnesota and flowing south to the Gulf of Mexico.

Rocky Mountains

A major mountain range in western North America that stretches from Canada through the United States, including Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico.

Weather

What the atmosphere is like right now or over a short period of time.

Climate

The usual weather of a place over a long period of time.

Arctic/Polar Region

A climate region in Northern Canada characterized by very cold temperatures, snow, ice, and limited farming and population.

Continental Region

A climate region in Central Canada and the northern United States with four seasons, cold winters, warm summers, and good farming conditions.

Dry/Desert Region

A climate region in the southwestern United States that is hot with very little rain, where farming often requires irrigation.

Tropical Region

A climate region in Florida and Hawaii characterized by hot, rainy weather and the occurrence of hurricanes.

Mild/Marine Region

A climate region on the West Coast with cool summers, mild winters, and heavy rain that supports forests, fishing, and lumber industries.

Migration

The movement of people from one place to another, often driven by push or pull factors.

Push Factor

Something that forces or encourages people to leave a place, such as war, unsafe government, natural disasters, or drought.

Pull Factor

Something that attracts people to a new location, such as jobs, better pay, schools, family, or opportunities.

Cultural Diversity

When people in a country come from different backgrounds and have various languages, religions, and traditions.