North America

Geography and Climate of North America:

  • North America stretches from the Canadian Arctic through the United States and Mexico to the Isthmus of Panama. The region of North America shares similarities between Canada and the United States in terms of language and a shared history.

  • Physiographic Regions The physiographic regions of North America are well-defined and have a strong north-south alignment. For example: the Rocky Mountains, Appalachian Mountains, and the Great Plains.

  • Climate The climate is diverse, ranging from tundra in northern Canada and Greenland to semi-arid desert in the southwestern United States.

    • Humid Continental (Great Lakes) The Great Lakes region has a humid continental climate. (Chicago).

    • Mediterranean (California) has a Mediterranean climate.

    • Tropical; Florida has a humid subtropical climate, while the Caribbean features a tropical climate.

  • Geologic features Most of North America is situated on the North American plate and is relatively geologically stable.

  • Rivers North America has a number of significant rivers, with the Missouri and Mississippi being the longest and most important for commercial transportation, respectively.

  • Aquifers The Ogallala Aquifer, located in the central United States, is the largest aquifer and supplies water to much of the Great Plains.

History and Settlement:

  • Indigenous People The landmass was inhabited long before European contact, with early migrants traveling from Asia through the Beringia land bridge.

  • Colonization European colonization changed the cultural landscape, with the British, French, and Spanish establishing formal colonies in the Americas.

  • Industrial Development Shaped the pattern of human settlement in North America. As in Europe, industrial development occurred in urban areas spurring people to move from rural farming communities to the cities to find work.

  • Urban Landscape Shaped both by colonization and industrialization. Most of the early settlements in the region were small and located close to the eastern coast.

Patterns of Inequality:

  • Income inequality persists in both Canada and the United States. In the United States, almost 15% of people live below the poverty line, with states in the south having greater concentrations of poverty.

  • Income inequality is closely tied to ethnicity and race in both the United States and Canada.

Global Connections:

  • North America has a significant role in global trade and influence. Both Canada and the United States are members of the Group of Eight (G8) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

  • The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) governs trade within North America between Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

  • Both Canada and the United States continue to attract immigrants.

Mexico’s Economic Role

  • Automotive Industry: The automotive industry has a large manufacturing presence in Mexico, particularly in the central and northern regions of the country.

  • Oil: Mexico is a significant oil producer, with state-owned Pemex being one of the largest oil companies in the world.

  • Manufacturing: Mexico has a well-diversified manufacturing sector that includes industries such as automotive, electronics, aerospace, and consumer goods.

Natural Resources:

  • Due to its diverse physical conditions, North America has a wide variety of natural resources, contributing to regional differences.

  • Most of Canada's land area consists of boreal forest, which is an important resource, especially for indigenous communities.

  • The Canadian Shield has some of the world’s richest mineral areas.

  • The Athabasca oil sands in Canada, shale oil in the U.S., and agriculture in the Great Plains and California are vital to the continent’s economy.

  • Mexico's maquiladoras: Manufacturing plants that assemble products for export, have become a fixture of its landscape, especially along the border

Major Cities:

  • Most urban centers are located close to water

  • Toronto, Canada’s largest city, has a population of 2.8 million within its city limits, while its surrounding suburbs bring the metropolitan area to over 5.5 million.

  • The Northeast Megalopolis extends along the Interstate 95 corridor from the southern suburbs of Washington, DC north through Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York to Boston. It covers about 2% of the land area in the United States but is home to over 50 million people, around 16% of the US population.

  • New York, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Toronto are key urban centers with cultural and economic influence.

Trade Agreements:

  • Trade within North America was initially governed by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between Canada, Mexico, and the United States, established in 1994 to increase economic cooperation.

  • However, it is important to note that NAFTA has been replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).