WBBSE Chapter 9 North America Synopsis
To discover waterways between Europe and India, Italian sailor Christopher Columbus found the Eastern Island of North America and thought of those islands as the ‘West Indies’ in the year 1492.
In 1501 AD, Portuguese sailor Amerigo Vespucci discovered the mainland of North America. Thus the continent has been named after him.
The world’s largest island Greenland lies in the continent of North America.
The continent of North America has a triangular shape and it is the third largest continent of the world in terms of area.
North America extends from 7° North latitude (the southernmost tip of Panama) to 84° North latitude (the northern tip of Greenland) and 20° West longitude to 173° West longitude.
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To the south, North America is connected to South America by the Isthmus of Panama. The continent of North America is separated from Asia by the Bering Strait in the North.
Mt. McKinley is the highest peak in the Alaska range of North America.
Physical geography of North America
North America is divided into four major physiographic divisions-Western Cordille- ras, Central Lowland or Central Plains of North America, Canadian or Laurentian Plateau, and Eastern Highland.
The low-lying region in south-eastern California is known as the Death Valley. It is the hottest region (56°C) of the
continent and the lowest-lying area of the western hemisphere.
Based on the local characteristics of the Central Lowlands of North America, it is subdivided into the plains of the St. Lawrence River basin, the plains of the lake region, the Prairie plain land, and the plains of the Mississippi-Missouri basin.
The five largest lakes have originated due to glacial erosion to the southeastern part of the central plains. These are Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, and Ontario. These five lakes form the ‘Great Lakes Region’ of North America.
The Prairie plainland extends over a vast area in the middle part of North America. It is mainly grassland. Thus, this plain is also called Prairie Grassland.
The eastern highland region consists primarily of three dissected plateaus. These are the Labrador Plateau in the north, New England Highland in the middle, and the Appalachian mountains in the south.
Mount Mitchel of Blue Ridge Mountain is the highest peak in the Appalachian.
St. Lawrence is the most important river for transportation in North America.
Mississippi-Missouri is the longest river in North America. A bird’s foot-shaped delta has formed at the mouth of this river.
The world-famous Grand Canyon has formed along the course of the river Colorado which is in North America.
The Prairie produces huge quantities of wheat. In the northern part of this region, wheat is cultivated in the spring season and thus it is known as the spring wheat belt. On the other hand, in the southern part wheat cultivation is practiced in winter.
As in various seasons wheat is cultivated. in huge quantities, and this region is known as ‘the Bread Basket of the World’.
The five lakes of the Lakes Region are- Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario.
Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world. St. Lawrence, Mississippi-Missouri, and Ohio are the main rivers of this region. St. Lawrence River joins these five lakes. Niagara Falls has originated on this river between Erie and Ontario.
The Canadian Shield is an eroded plateau made up of hard rocks such as granite and gneiss.
Regions of North American geography
WBBSE Very Short Answer Type Questions Fill In The Blanks
Question 1. ___________ acts as the geographical divide between Asia and North America.
Answer: Bering Strait
Question 2. North America and South America are separated by ___________.
Answer: Panama Canal
Question 3. To the west of North America lies the ___________ Ocean.
Answer: Pacific
Question 4. ___________ is the hottest place in North America and has the lowest altitude in the world.
Answer: Death Valley
Question 5. North America is ___________ in the world in the production of softwood.
Answer: First
Question 6. North America is known as the ___________ since it was discovered only 500 years ago by Amerigo Vespucci.
Answer: New World
Question 7. The highest peak of the Appalachians is ___________.
Answer: Mt. Mitchell
Question 8. An active volcano in Mexico is ___________.
Answer: Popocatepetl
Question 9. The steep western part of the Appalachian mountain range is known as the ___________.
Answer: Allegheny mountains
Question 10. The St. Helena volcano is situated in ___________.
Answer: California
Question 11. Washington DC, the capital of the USA, is on the banks of the river ___________.
Answer: Potomac
Question 12. The capital of Cuba is ___________.
Answer: Havana
Question 13. The capital of Costa Rica is ___________.
Answer: San Jose
Question 14. The Grand Canyon, carved by the___________ river, is the world’s longest and largest canyon.
Answer: Colorado
Great Plains characteristics
Question 15. Grand ___________ is formed on the river Colorado.
Answer: Canyon
Question 16. The eastern part of the Appalachian mountains is known as the ___________.
Answer: Blue Ridge
Question 17. The shrubs that are seen in the tundra forests are known as ___________.
Answer: Bush tundra
Question 18. The ___________ region is called the ‘granary of North America’.
Answer: Prairie
WBBSE Chapter 9 Topic A General Introduction And Physical Environment Of North America Match The Columns
1. 
Answer: 1. C, 2. D, 3. A, 4. B
WBBSE Write True Or False
Question 1. The Grand Canyon has been carved by the St. Lawrence River.
Answer: False
Question 2. The Mississippi River flows into Hudson Bay.
Answer: False
Question 3. Mt. Mitchell in the Blue Ridge Mountains is the highest peak in the Appalachians.
Answer: True
Question 4. One important tributary meets the Mississippi near the city of St. Paul.
Answer: False
Question 5. Greenland, the world’s largest island, is a dissected plateau.
Answer: True
Question 6. The Appalachians are the longest mountain range in North America.
Answer: False
Question 7. At the mouth of the river Mississippi, a delta-shaped like a bird’s foot has developed.
Answer: True
Question 8. The California Valley is commonly known as the Death Valley.
Answer: False
Question 9. The temperate grasslands of North America are known as the Pampas.
Answer: False
WBBSE Class 8 Geography Chapter 9 Question Answers
Answer In One Or Two Words
Question 1. Name the world’s largest Piedmont glacier.
Answer: Malaspina in Alaska.
Question 2. Which is the world’s largest canyon?
Answer: The Grand Canyon.
Question 3. What connects the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean?
Answer: Panama Canal.
Question 4. Which is the hottest place in North America?
Answer: Death Valley (56°C).
Question 5. Which is the lowest place in the Western Hemisphere?
Answer: Death Valley (90m below the mean sea level).
Question 6. What is the name of the highest peak in North America?
Answer: Denali (Mt. McKinley).
Canadian Shield overview
Question 7. Which is the highest mountain range in North America?
Answer: The Alaska Range
Question 8. Where is the source of the Colorado River?
Answer: The Rockies.
Question 9. Which is the main river in North America?
Answer: Mississippi-Missouri.
Question 10. Name one inland river in North America.
Answer: Saskatchewan.
Question 11. Which state in the USA is the largest wheat producer in North America?
Answer: Kansas.