The Physical Geography of North America - Research Paper Example

? North America Introduction North America stands as the third biggest continent and forms the northern subcontinent of the Americas linked to South America by an isthmus. North America borders the Pacific Ocean to the West, Atlantic Ocean to the east, Arctic Ocean to the north, and South America to the south. North America covers an area of about 24,709,000 square kilometers, which makes up about 4.8% of the planet’s surface or close to 16.5% of its land area. Based on 2008 statistics, estimates indicate that 529 million people live across 23 independent states, which constitutes 7.5% of the human population. The Northern half of North America remains sparingly populated and covered largely by Canada, except by North East part occupied by Alaska. The central and southern sections of the North America continent are represented by Mexico, United States, as well as several states situated in Caribbean and Central America. Canada, Mexico, and the United States constitute most of North America’s land mass and share the continent with 34 other island countries in the Caribbean south of Mexico. The paper explores the physical, economic, cultural, and historical geography of North America. The physical geography of North America Physical features frequently impact on the manner in which people select to settle areas and utilize the land. Physical geography can be categorized into three core areas of emphasis, namely: climatology (weather patterns and climates); geomorphology (physiography and landforms); and, biogeography (fauna and flora). The surface physiography of any region draws huge influences by the underlying rock structure. Geologic evidence demonstrates that, from 200 million years, the continent of North America altered its course and started drifting away from Pangaea. The earliest recorded history of any civilization dates back 5,000 years ago (Meinig, 1989). The physical features of North America entail Northern section of the American Cordillera comprising of the geologically new Rocky Mountains (located in the west) and older Appalachian Mountains to the east. The North features several glacial lakes formed within the last glacial period such as the Great Lakes. North America’s prominent continental divide (the Great Divide) runs north and south via Rocky Mountains. The prominent watershed largely drains to the east including the Mississippi/Missouri, St. Lawrence that drains into the Atlantic, and Rio Grande, which drain into the Gulf of Mexico (Meinig, 1989). North America can be categorized into five major physiographic regions, namely: Canadian Shield; Appalachian Mountains; Atlantic Coastal Plain; North American Cordillera; and, Interior Lowlands. The Coastal Plain and the principal North American Cordillera belts largely extend to the south in Mexico to join the Transverse Volcanic Range (a region comprising of active volcanic peaks south of Mexico City. The biggest portion of North America rests on the North American Plate anchored on the Laurentia craton. Some sections of California and Western Mexico form the partial edge of the Pacific Plate, which meet along the San Andreas Fault while sections in the southern portion of the Caribbean and sections of the Central America constitute relatively small Caribbean Plate (Brescia & Super, 2009). Mexico equally manifests highly varied topography that comprises of rugged mountains with high elevations, high plateaus, low coastal plains, and deserts. Mexico’s climate can also be regarded as variable mainly dominated by tropical or desert climate (Colby, 2011). North America Climate The core factors that impact on climate include continentality, latitude, surface physiography, and air masse possess huge impacts on the climate of North America, which in turn, possess direct influences the bio-geographic distribution of the natural vegetation across the region. The core factors that influence vegetation patterns entail temperature and humidity (precipitation). The climate that manifest in North America is characteristically cool and humid. The rainy zone unevenly extends in America rendering the vegetation to be distinctive. The area towards the west coast appears to be milder and wetter relative to other areas within the same latitude. The climate of North America draws huge influences from the latitude ranging from the tropical heat in the south to Arctic cold in the north. The Western section of North America appears to manifest wetter and milder climate relative to other areas with analogous latitude; nevertheless, there are steppes (prairies) within the central and western sections, as well as deserts within the Southwestern U.S. of Arizona Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Texas, and Nevada. This also applies to the Mexican states of Baja California, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas. The Central Lowlands located in the Midwest and the Great Plains constitute sedimentary rock derived from the Rocky Mountains, Appalachian Mountains, and ancient upland areas located to the north and west of the Great Lakes. The Great Plains represents broad expanse of steppe and prairie that lies east of the Rocky Mountains within Canada and the United States (Robbers, 2006). The narrow plains within the Mexican coast and the Savannas of the Mississippi mirror the Patagonian steppes and the Pampas of the Piranha, Rio de la Plata, and Paraguay. North America extends to within 10° of latitude of the equator and the North Pole and features every climatic zone from Savanna on the lowlands of Central America to tropical rain forest, as well as permanent ice cap within central Greenland. Tundra climates and Subarctic climates manifest in north Canada and north Alaska while desert and semiarid conditions situated in interior regions, which are cut off by rain-laden westerly winds and high mountains. The Cascade Mountain and the Sierra Nevada range run along the whole of Pacific Coast and functions as a barrier to the humid winds that sweep in from the ocean. The arid conditions are in some cases, heightened in regions manifesting extremely low altitude and higher air pressure yielding to dry conditions and adiabatic heating influences as is the case of pocket deserts located in British Columbia (Blij, Muller, & Williams, 2004). There is a diverse range of plant life distributions within North America, whereby plant life within the Arctic entails mosses, arctic willows, and grasses. The plant life that is indigenous to the Canadian and Western U.S. mountain ranges includes pines, firs, spruces, and hemlocks. The Mississippi and Mackenzie systems are massive river that flow across the continent. In Central America, most of the rivers are rarely utilized since they are short and manifest swift currents (Colby, 2011). Majority of the North America’s continent lakes features in the glaciated areas within the north with eight of the world’s biggest lakes located within the area. The Economic geography of North America Most North America states features a free market economy detailing mixed modern industry and agriculture. The nations of North America are at diverse levels of economic development. The U.S. and Canada can be singled out as the most technologically and industrially advanced nations manifesting over 90% of workers engaged in nonagricultural pursuits. Canada’s economic trends mirror those of the U.S. with considerable growth within the sectors of services, manufacturing, and mining. Mexico can be regarded as having diversified economy with promising industrial sector; nevertheless, the growth of the manufacturing sector is not widespread and unemployment still remains a challenge (Bagchi-Sen & Lawton-Smith, 2006). The nations located in the Caribbean and Central America can be regarded as the least developed in North America given that over a quarter of the workforce are engaged in the agricultural sector. For a majority of the countries, service industries constitute the largest source of jobs for the citizens; however, the tourist industry, wholesale and retail sectors also avail a significant number of jobs. The U.S. service sector constitutes 76.7% of the country’s GDP (2010 estimates) while industry constitutes 22.2%, and agriculture constitutes 1.2%. Statistics (2011) indicate that U.S. had a capita gross domestic product of $47,200 while that of Canada stood at around $39,400. The biggest share of cropland within North America is used in the cultivation of cereals such as corn and wheat. Almost half of the global corn output is grown in North America, as well as over a fifth of the global wheat production. North America’s extensive agricultural activities can be linked to the interrelationship of fertile soils, favorable climatic conditions, and technology. North America also leads in the production of meat, soybeans, and tobacco. North America’s richest farmland can be found along eastern Great Plains, the Great Plains, and Central Mexico. The subtropical and tropical regions of North America are prominent owing to the commercial production of cotton, sugarcane, vegetables, citrus fruits, coffee, and banana. North American can be regarded as highly industrialized relative to any other continent except Europe and enjoys some of the most diversified manufacturing industries in the world. North America can be regarded as a leader in the production of virtually all forms of manufactured goods such as aircraft, motor vehicles, aluminum, processed goods, paper, machinery, iron and steel, petroleum products, electrical and electronic products, textiles, chemicals, and fabricated metal goods (Bagchi-Sen & Lawton-Smith, 2006). Other economic sectors that North America exploits include minerals, investment and banking, forests, and fishing, transportation, and trade (trading among North American nations themselves, Japan, China, and Western Europe). Some of the prominent trade blocs in North America include Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Caribbean Community, and Central American Free Trade Agreement. The Organization of American States represents a continental organization launched in 1948 with the aim of pursuing regional solidarity and cooperation among the member states. The objective of OAS rests on reinforcing peace and security within the continent, fostering and consolidating representative democracy, and pursuing a solution of judicial, political, and economic challenges that the countries may encounter. The Political geography of North America Political Geography covers aspects such as country, state boundaries, and nation development, diplomacy, and international organizations. Most of the North American countries have a favorable reputation for conducting free fair elections, where political parties accept and respect the electoral process; nevertheless, some nations within North America still grapple with dysfunctional administrations and dictatorial regimes. Mexico is regarded as a federal republic with the chief of state and the head of state constituting the executive branch of government. Mexico’s legislative branch features, a bicameral National Congress, constituting the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Mexico is administratively divided into 31 states and one federal district (Mexico City). The Cultural/human geography of North America Cultural geography covers a broad range of human interactions with the land and encompasses aspects such as religion, population density and immigration, language, religion, and economics of a region. North America has been largely shaped by immigration, which influences the movement of people into the countries from another. North America’s initial immigrants arrived into the region from Asia thousands of years ago (Johnson, 2013). Historical geographers contend that humans have been living in the Americas for 10,000 years or more. It is estimated that Arctic and Subarctic Indians arrived at Alaska and Canada from northern Siberia 10,000 years ago. It is presumed that individuals from southern and eastern Asia or Polynesia could have come through the northern coastal route. Presently, the descendants of the immigrants (Native Americans) number about 2.5 million within the U.S. and about 700,000 in Canada. Exploration of North America was spurred consequently after arrival of Christopher Columbus who was sailing for Spanish monarch in 1492. Three nations, namely: Spain, England, and France were prominent in establishing colonies within the present U.S.; nevertheless, other countries such as New Netherlands also took part in the colonization of North America (Blij, Muller, & Williams, 2004). Majority of the other people inhabiting North America including Europeans, Africans, Asians, and Latin Americans came much later to the region. Consequently, the populations of North America can be regarded as among the most diverse in the world. Although, majority of the nations in North America started as agricultural societies, most of the countries have experienced rapid urbanization yielding to a high concentration of the population within cities (McQuillan, 1993). Similarly, people have been drawn to cities in search of education, jobs, cultural opportunities, and healthcare. Presently, majority of people in the U.S and Canada live in metropolitan areas, as well as outlying communities (suburbs). Many population centers are also located along coastal areas where healthy economies support big populations (Brescia & Super, 2009). Most of the countries in North America enjoy religious freedom. Religion within the U.S. spans the period ranging from Native Americans arrival and the European settlement. The various faiths have significant influence on culture, art, philosophy, and law. The U.S., Canada, and Mexico account for close to 85% of the population of North America in which a large percentage of the population within the outlined countries are Christians, which makes Christianity to be the biggest religion within North America. Education within the U.S. is mainly administered by states, whereby every state enjoys the mandate to deliver free and public primary and secondary education system. There are a sizeable number of institutions of higher learning, which are state and privately supported. A large percentage of North American population are urban (in the U.S. and Canada, close to 50% population are estimated to be suburban), and a significant majority of the inhabitants are of European descent. In the U.S., the largest minority group are Hispanics (constituting people of Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican origin), followed by African Americans, and people of Asian origin. Prior to the arrival of the European ruler within the native North America, the natives were largely formed into numerous tribal groups. Majority of the indigenous cultures thrived such as the Dorset culture, followed by Clovis culture and the Thule people of modern New Mexico (McQuillan, 1993). The arrival of the Europeans was accompanied by a decline of the native population owing to the disease that European brought with them. Movement for independence began in late and early 19th centuries across the region. The languages of North America mirror that of the continents’ indigenous peoples, as well as the language of the European colonization. North America can be regarded as home to a large number of language families, as well as several language isolates. The most broadly spoken languages within North America include French, English, Spanish, and creole languages (Johnson, 2013). In the Arctic north, in places such as Greenland and Alaska, Eskimo-Aleut languages are spoken by a large portion of the population. Other indigenous languages include the Algic languages, the Iroquoian languages, and the Siouan-Catawban languages. The immigrant languages, which are prominently used within North America, mirror the three prominent powers within the age of Discovery, namely: France, England, and Spain. Conclusion North America constitutes the third largest continent by area (9,540,000 square miles) and fourth most populated continent in the world. North America entails 23 independent states inclusive of Canada, United States, and Mexico. North America constitutes North American peninsula, the Caribbean, and Central America. North America is situated within the northern hemisphere, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean and is home to two prominent global economies-the U.S. and Canada. North America’s economic, physical, and cultural environments have been undergoing rapid changes right from climate change, global economic turmoil, environmental hazards, cultural phenomenon of online social networks, and growing population. North America can be regarded as a multifaceted economy in which the service industry avails the bulk of job opportunities within countries in the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States. References Bagchi-Sen, S. & Lawton-Smith, H. (2006). Economic geography: Past, present, and future. New York, NY: Routeldge. Blij, H. J., Muller, P. O., & Williams, R. S. (2004). Physical geography: The global environemnt, Volume 1. London, UK: Oxford University Press. Brescia, M. M., & Super, J. C. (2009). North America: An introduction. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Colby, C. C. (2011). Source book for the economic geography of North America. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press. Johnson, N. C. (2013). The Wiley-Blackwell companion to cultural geography. New Jersey, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell. McQuillan, A. (1993). Historical geography and ethnic communities in North America. Progress in Human Geography, 17 (3): 355-366. Meinig, D. W. (1989). The historical Geography Imperative. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 79 (1): 79-87. Robbers, G. (2006). Encyclopedia of World Geography: Three-volume Set. New York, NY: Infobase Pub. Read More