Springboard Academy

World Geography for Prelims

World Geography
-Major landfoms - Mountains, plateaus, plains and valleys
- Major activities and regions

-Types of agriculture
- Major economic regions
Environmental problems - deforestation, desertification, climate change, water cycle disruptions

and global issues (urbanization), seasonal changes

North America

Mountains of North America

1, Brooks Range
2. Alaska Range

3. Rocky Mountains

4. Cascade Mountains

5. Coast Mountains

6. Sierra Nevada Mountains

7. Sierra Madre Occidental

8. Sierra Madre Oriental

9. Appalachian Mountains

The mountain ranges situated in the western part of North America are collectively called the
Western Cordilleras. This region indudes many volcanic peaks ike Mount Hood, Rainier, Shasta,
etc.
Mountains of North America

1. Mount McKinley (Denali) - This is the highest peak in North America and is part of the Alaska
Range.

2. Mount Logan - The second highest peak in North America, located in Canada, and part of the
Saint Elias Mountains,

3. Mount Whitney - The highest peak in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Located in the USA, it Is

one of the highest peaks outside the Rockies.

4. Mount Elbert The highest peak in the Rocky Mountains. Located in Colorado, it is also the

second highest peak in the USA.

5. Mount Mitchell - The highest peak of the Appalachian Mountains. It is the highest point
east of the
Mississippl River in North America.
6. Volcanic Mountains The western mountain range of North America includes many volcanic
mountains like Mount Hood, Mount Rainier, Mount Shasta, Mount St. Helens, Mount Adams, Mount
Baker, etc. These mountains are young fold mountains and the Pacific
coast is seismically very
active. Volcanic activities and frequent earthquakes are cormmon here. This
region is part of the
Pacific Ring of Fire.
7. Citlaltpetl (Pico de Orizaba) The highest volcanic peak in North America and the third highest
peak on the continent.

8. Popocatépetl- This is an active stratovolcano near Mexico City.

9. Mount Waialeale - Located in Hawail. This mountain
receives about 10,205 mm (10.2 meters) of
rainfall annually, making it one of the wettest places on Earth. It is part
of a volcanic island group.

Area wise Continent List

1. Asia

2. Africa
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Plateaus of North America

1. Columbia Snake Plateau This volcanic plateau lies on the Colunbla River and Snake River

valley.

2. Great Plains - Located east of the Rocky Mountains and west of the Missisippi River (the
northern plains are in North America).
3. Colorado Plateau -This plateau lies on the Colorado Rver and its tributaries.

4, Mexican Plateau - Situated between the Sierra Madre Occidental and Slerra Madre Oriental

mountain ranges

5. Canadian- Appalachian Plateau Lies tothe west of the Appalachian Mountains; known for iron
ore deposits.
6. Canadian Shield and Laurentian Plateay - Rich in minerals ike copper, iron ore, nickel, gold.

silver, etc.

Plains oft North America

Prairies This is agrassiand area of the USA and Canada. The prairies are part of the temparata
grasslands. in terns of vegetation. they are dominated by short and tall grasses.
It is highly suitable for agriculture and animal rearing. These plains are a part al the central
lowlands of North America

-These plains are very tertile, so they are considered the "Wheat Bowi ot the Worid."
-They are also famous for animal husbandry. The major crops grown here are wheat, maize (com).
barley, aats, potatoes, etc.
-The livestock industry is also highly developed (beet, pork, dairy). Major cities of the prairies
include Chicago, Winnipeg, etc.

Basins of North America

1. Death Valley Basin - USA-Located in Califormia. It ls the driest and hottest area in the USA.
2. Great Basin USA Lies between the Slerra Nevada and Rocky Mountains.
3. Mississippi Basin USA - Located in the central USA, drained by the Mississippi River.
4. Hudson Bay Basin -Canada - The surrounding land of Hudson Bay drains into this t

Major Rivers of North America

Major Rivers of North America

1. Mississippi River - (Source - Great Slave Lake, flows into - Gull of Mexico) This is the longest
river of the USA and an important inland waterway.
2. Yukon Rver - (Source - Rocky Mountains, Mows into - Bering Sea) This is a majar river of the
state of Alaska.

3 Colorado River -(Source - Rocky Mountains, fows into - Gut od California) Famous lor carving
out the Grand Canyon.

4. Combila River -(Source -Rocky Mountains, Mlows into Paciic Ocean) This river has signicant
hydroelectric potential.
5. Mackenzie Rver - (Source - Great Slave Lake, lows into - Arctic Ocsan) t is the largest river
system in Canada
6. Missouri River -Mississippi River System - The combined Missouri-Mississipi river system is the
longest river system in North America and the third longest in the world. It has vast ferile plains and
is important for agriculture and transportailion.
7. Hudson River - Originates trom the Adirondack Mountalns and Mlows into he Atantic Ocean. It is
a tidal iver, which means the lower portion experiencas tidal etfects.
8. SL. Lawrence Rlver - (Source - Great Lakes, lows into - Attantic Ocean) An important waterway
that forms the natural border between Canada and the United States.

9. Potomac River This tver Mlows near Washington D.C. the capital of the USA
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Major Lakes of North America

1. Great Bear Lake- This is the largest lake located in Canada.

2. Groat Slave Lake This is the deepest lake in North America, and the source of the Mackenzio
River.

- The city of Yellowknite les on the shores of this lake. It is also a source ol gold and diamonds

3. Great Salt Lake -This ls the largest saline lake in North America.
4, The Great Lakes

(From east to west based on shape: Ontario, Eie, Huron, Michigan, Superior)
These lakes lie between the USA and Canada. The St Lawrenca River originates from thern and
flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

These lakes are the most important inland waterways of North America.
Superior Lake is the largost froshwater ake in the world by surfaco aroa.

These lakes are connectod by canais and rivers. Niagara Falis lies botwOen Erie and Ontario.

- The lakes are also used lor hydroelectricity (Niagara River) and are a hub tor industries (Detroit,
Toronto).

-The connecting waterway is called the St Lawrence Seaway, a vital shipping route

Industrial Centers of Canada

[Link] and St. Lawrence Region -

Industries: Iron and steel (Hamilton and Sudbury). Nickel and Platinum (Ontario),
Automobiles (Toronto, Windsor), Aluminum (Quebec), Gold (Ontario and noar Halitax),
Aircraft manulacturing (Montreal), Timber and paper (British Columbia), and Hydro-power from
rivers like St. Lawrence.

2. British Columbia Province -

Located in the west, this region has timber and paper industries, and is known for shipbuilding.

Vancouver is the most important city here, and a leading port in Canada.
3. Pacific Coastal Province

Situated in the western part, this includes Vancouver, Seattle, and nearby areas.

Seattle is known for its alrcral and software industries.

Vancouver is an important port.

Industrial Centers of the United Stales of America

1. Great Lakes Region / Midwest Reglon

Industries: lron and steel (Cleveland, Chicago, Gary), meat processing (Chicago).
Automabile industry (Detroit), Synthetic rubber (Akron)

2. North-Eastern Reglon -

Industries: Iron and steel (Pittsburgh, Youngstown, Bufalo, New Jersey).

Although Pittsburgh's iron industry has declined, it is still an industrial hub. 2/3

3. Southern New England Region -

Industries: Electronic (Boston, Providence), leather, textile, and shipbullding.
Boston is the educational hub and a biotech center.

. Mid-Atlantic Coastal Region

Industries: lron and steel (Middletown and Seney Point, Maryland, Wilmington, Reading),

Port cities Phiadelphia and Baltlmore

5. Southem Appalachian Reglon -

Industries: Iron and stoel (Alabama and Tennessee), textile and paper (North Carolina),

Important cities: Birmingharn and Allanta

6. Paciic Coastal Region -
Knowledge and h-tech industries (San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose).
Also known as Silicon Valey.
Other industries: Aircraft (Seatle), shipbuiding (Portland), ilm industry (Hollywood. Los Angeles)

7. Alaska - O is extracted trom the Arctic region.

South America

Mountains of South America

Andes Mountains -

These are the longest mountain range in the wortd. The highest peak of the Andes in the Western
Hemisphere is Mount Aconcagua.
-Located in the western part of the continent.
-It runs along the Pacitic Ocean.
-Contains volcanic peaks.
The Andes Mountains contain many important peaks ike Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, and the highest
peak Aconcagua.
It is home to several minerals such as copper, tin, silver, and petroleum.

Plateaus of South America

1. Guiana Plateau

Located in countries like Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and northern Brazil.

Rich In minerals such as bauxite, gold, iron ore, and manganese.

Sourco region of many rivers.

2. Brazilian Plateau -
Lles in the central and eastern part of Brazil.

Divided into several smaller plateaus.

Rivers like the São Francisco originate here
The Itaipu Dam, built on the Paraná River here, is among the world's largest hydroelectric

projects.
 Brasilia, the capital o! Brazil, is located on this plateau.

3. Patagonian Plateau -

Located in southem Argentina.

A cold desert plateau.

Formed by sedimentation from marine deposits.

his the most important plateau in the southern part of South America.

Plains of South America 2/4

1. Westem Coastal Plains -

Located between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean,

The Atacama Desert is part of this region

This region has dry soll and rich deposits of nitrate and copper.

2. Pampas Grassiands
Temperate grassiands lound mainly in Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil.
Fertile region, used for wheat and corm farming.

Also famous lor raising cattle, particularty in Estancia ranches.

Deserts of South Amerlca

1. Atacama Desert -

Localed in Chie, known as the driest desert in the workd.

2. Patagonian Desert
Located in Che and Argentina, a cold desert region.
Major Rvers of South America

1. Amazon Rlver -
in South America.
The largest rlver in the world by volume of water and length
Its main tributary is the Rio Negro.
the world's largest drainage basin.
The Amazon basin has dense forests and is known as

2. Paraná River
The second-longest river in South America.

Its tributaries incude Paraguay and Uruguay Rivers.

The river lows through Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.

The Itaipu Dam (Brazil-Paraguay border) is built on this river.

3. São Francisco River

An important river of Brazil.

In lows from the Brazilan Highlands and provides water for irrigation and hydroolectric power.

4. Orinoco Rlver
Originates in the Guiana Highlands and lows through Venezuela and Colombia,

Rich in biodiversity

5. Tocantins River

Flows in central Brazil and forms part of the Amazon basin.

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6. Colorado Rlver

This river flows from the Patagonian Desert toward the Atlantic Ocean, marking the boundary

between Argentina and Chile.

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Lakes l South America

1. Maracabo Lake

The largest lako in South America located in Venezuela.

t is a saline (salty) lake and has ol deposits.
It is connected to the Caribbean Sea by a naOW strait.

2. Titicaca Lake -

Located in the border region of Peru and Bolivia.

t is the highest navigable freshwaler lake in the worid.

It s used for inland navigation and transportation.

Industries of South America

-Iron and Steel

Brazil is a leading producer (major centers: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais)

-Manganese -
Found in the Amazon basin (Brazil)

Aluminum
Found in Guyana and Suriname

-Copper -
Chile is the leading producer (Chuquicamata mine)

Tin
2/5
 Brazil, Chile

Wine
Argentina (Mendoza)

Africa

Major Mountains of Africa

. Atas Mountains

Located in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia (Highest peak - Toubkal)

2 Drakensberg Mountains
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Located in South Africa and LOsotho (Highest peak - Thabana Ntlenyana)

3. Ethiopian Highlands -
Located in Ethiopia; volcanic mountains found here

. Mitumba Mountains -
Found in the Congo Basin (part of the Albertine Rift)

5. Ruwenzori Mountain Range

Located between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (Third highest mountain in

Africa).

Mount Stanley is the highest peak in this range and is permanently snow-covered.
Known as the "Mountains of the Moon"
Major Plateaus of Africa

1. Fouta Djallon Highlands -

Part af the Fouta Djallon Plateau; source of many rivers.

2. Jos Plateau -
Located in Nigeria; mineral-rich and centrally located; capital ls Jos.

3. Adamawa Plateay -

Located in easiern Nigeria and Cameroon

.Cameroon Highiands
Volcanic highlands in western Cameroon

5. Bié Plateau
Found in Angola

6. Katanga Plateau -
Located in the Democratic Republc of Congo (mineral-rich)

7. East African Plateau

A vast plateau region spread across Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.

Includes many lakes and volcanoes (Kilimanjaro, Kenya, etc.)

Other Notable Highlands

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Asir and Hijaz Highlands -
 Located in Saudi Arabia; separated from the Red Sea by a steep escarpment.

-Ethiopian Highlands
These volcanic highlands are located in Ethiopia and Eritroa.
Known for deep rhver valleys and gorges.
Origin of the Blue Nile.

Savannah Grassiands / Plains of Atrica

These grassiands are found in troplcal regions of Africa.

They support the highest variety of wildlife.
Important for tourism and hunting.