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Regional Geography of the Continents

Geography of North America

A regional survey of the landforms, climates, and human geography of Canada, the United States, and Mexico, from the ancient Canadian Shield to the volcanic belt of central Mexico.

60-Second Review

Express review

A condensed, point-by-point summary of the module, for reviewing right before a test or exam.

  1. Physical Regions of the United States and Canada. North America's physiography spans an ancient shield, folded mountains, plains, and young cordillera.
  2. The Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway. The five Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway link glacial freshwater basins to the Atlantic.
  3. Mexico's Plateaus and Coastal Regions. Mexico's interior plateaus, volcanic belt, and long coastlines make for a geologically active landscape.
  4. Climate Diversity Across North America. From Arctic tundra to tropical rainforest, North America spans nearly every climate zone on Earth.
  5. Population Distribution and Major Metropolitan Areas. Population concentrates in metro hubs like Mexico City, New York, and Toronto amid high urbanization.
  6. The North American Economy and NAFTA/USMCA. NAFTA and its successor, USMCA, bind the United States, Canada, and Mexico into one integrated economy.
  7. Indigenous Nations and Territorial History. Indigenous nations built complex societies long before European contact and colonial displacement.
  8. Cultural Regions of the United States and Canada. Distinct vernacular cultures divide the U.S. and Canada, from New England to Quebec and the Southwest.

This is the starting point of Regional Geography of the Continents: you don't need any prior knowledge of this subject to begin.

Key points

Visual module map

1Physical Regions of the United States and Canada
2Mexico's Plateaus and Coastal Regions
3Population Distribution and Major Metropolitan Areas
4The North American Economy and NAFTA/USMCA
5Cultural Regions of the United States and Canada

Alternative visual view: a simplified sequence of some of the module's key points, in their order within the syllabus.

Your module mastery

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Approximate breakdown by skill
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Final test

You need to review all key points to unlock the final test.

Optional mini-games

Extra practice, with no penalty, to reinforce the module's content.

Review Flashcards

Review each key point with cards that flip to reveal the summary.

Memory

Match each concept with its definition in as few attempts as possible.

Time Attack

Answer true or false statements before time runs out.

Chronological Order

Put the module's key points back in their original order.

Further reading

Bibliography and cited sources used to create this module.

  • Fenneman, N.M. (1928). "Physiographic Divisions of the United States." Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 18(4).
  • Larson, G. and Schaetzl, R. (2001). "Origin and Evolution of the Great Lakes." Journal of Great Lakes Research, 27(4).
  • Bennett, M.R., et al. (2021). "Evidence of Humans at White Sands National Park During the Last Glacial Maximum." Science, 373(6562).
  • Hildebrand, A.R., et al. (1991). "Chicxulub Crater: A Possible Cretaceous/Tertiary Boundary Impact Crater on the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico." Geology, 19(9).
  • Office of the United States Trade Representative (2020). Agreement between the United States of America, the United Mexican States, and Canada (USMCA). Washington, DC: Executive Office of the President.
  • Zelinsky, W. (1973). The Cultural Geography of the United States. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.