Geography of America: The Five Regions
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.
In North America’s different areas, you can find all kinds of habitats where plants and animals live together. These habitats, called biomes, cover large areas with similar weather. North America has many different biomes like deserts, grasslands, icy tundra, and coral reefs.
Western Region
In the west, there are tall mountains like the Rockies, stretching from Canada to New Mexico. These mountains are part of a big group called the Cordilleras. They have many volcanoes and are prone to earthquakes.
Some of the newest mountains are in the Cascade Range, which also has a special kind of forest called temperate rainforest. Deserts like the Sonoran, Mojave, and Chihuahuan are in this region too, known for cacti and hot, dry weather. The West also has a lot of oil and natural gas.
Great Plains
In the middle of North America, there are vast plains with rich soil called the Great Plains. These plains produce a lot of grain and have big deposits of oil and natural gas. The soil here was formed by melting glaciers thousands of years ago. Native grasses dominate these grasslands, which are home to animals like bison and prairie dogs.
Canadian Shield
In the northern part, there’s a flat plateau called the Canadian Shield. It’s rocky and has many lakes. The tundra, with its frozen ground and shallow lakes, is part of this area. Mosses and lichens grow here, providing food for animals like caribou and musk oxen.
Eastern Region
In the east, there are the Appalachian Mountains and the Atlantic coastal plain. The Appalachians have been mined for coal for a long time. The coastal plain has wetlands like the Florida Everglades, home to alligators and many bird species.
Caribbean Region
The Caribbean includes thousands of islands with diverse landscapes. There are beautiful coral reefs surrounding some of these islands, providing a home for colourful fish and other marine creatures.
Natural Wonders
North America has many amazing natural features like deep canyons, high mountains, active geysers, and huge bodies of freshwater like the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River.
Also Read: List of Regions in United States
Geography of America
Geography of America: The mainland United States (also known as the Lower 48), along with Alaska, Hawaii, and five territories: Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.
The United States shares land borders with Canada and Mexico, and maritime borders with countries like Russia, Cuba, and The Bahamas, mostly in the Caribbean, along with Canada and Mexico. The border between the United States and Canada is the longest shared land border between two countries in the world.