TOUR 2A NOTES (FINALS) NORTH AMERICA North America occupies the northern portion of the landmass generally referred

to as the New World, the Western Hemisphere, the Americas, or simply America (which is sometimes considered a single continent and North America a subcontinent). North America's only land connection to South America is at the Isthmus of Panama. The continent is generally delimited on the southeast by the Darin watershed along the Colombia-Panama border, or at the Panama Canal; according to other sources, its southern limit is the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mexico, with Central America tapering and extending southeastward to South America. Before the Central American isthmus was raised, the region had been underwater. The islands of the West Indies delineate a submerged former land bridge, which had connected North America and South America via what are now Florida and Venezuela. Much of North America is on the North American Plate. Major Geographic Characteristics Canada and the US are characterized by urban and ethnically diverse populations North America has a diversified resource base, including fertile soils that make it the major food-surplus region in the world North America has a high total and per capital consumption of resources and consumer goods The region is more dependent upon the automobile than any other region of the world Canada and the US are democratic federal states but each has a unique political organization Major Tourism Characteristics Tourism is an important element in the quality of life of residents of North America The region is one of the largest origin regions for international tourism The region is one of the largest international destination regions of the world The automobile is the major form of travel for domestic tourism The attractions in the region are extremely diversified Countries in North America COUNTRY CAPITAL Bahamas Nassau Belize Belmopan Costa Rica San Jose Dominica Roseau El Salvador San Salvador Guatemala Guatemala City Honduras Tegucigalpa Mexico Mexico City Panama Panama City Saint Kitts and Nevis Basseterre Saint Vincent & Grenadines Kingstown United States Washington, D.C. Canada Capital: Largest City: Official Languages: People: Form of Government: Currency: COUNTRY Barbados Canada Cuba Dominican Republic Grenada Haiti Jamaica Nicaragua Puerto Rico Saint Lucia Trinidad & Tobago US Virgin Islands CAPITAL Bridgetown Ottawa Havana Santo Domingo St. Georges Port-au-Prince Kingston Managua San Juan Castries Port of Spain Charlotte Amalie

Ottawa Toronto English & French Canadian Federal Parliamentary Democracy & Constitutional Monarchy Monarch: HM Queen Elizabeth II Canadian Dollars (CAD) CAPITAL EDMONTON WINNIPEG ST. JOHNS HALIFAX TORONTO QUEBEC CITY WHITEHORSE PROVINCE BRITISH COLUMBIA NEW BRUNSWICK NORTHWEST TERRITORY NUNAVUT PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND SASKATCHEWAN CAPITAL VICTORIA FREDICTON YELLOWKNIFE IQALUIT CHARLOTTETOWN REGINA

Canadian Territories/Provinces & its Capitals PROVINCE ALBERTA MANITOBA NEW FOUNDLAND & LABRADOR NOVA SCOTIA ONTARIO QUEBEC YUKON

Canada is a federation composed of ten provinces and three territories; in turn, these may be grouped into regions. Western Canada consists of British Columbia and the three Prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba). Central Canada consists of Quebec and Ontario. Atlantic Canada consists of the three Maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia), along with Newfoundland and Labrador. Eastern Canada refers to

Central Canada and Atlantic Canada together. Three territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut) make up Northern Canada. Provinces have more autonomy than territories. Each has its own provincial or territorial symbols. The provinces are responsible for most of Canada's social programs (such as health care, education, and welfare) and together collect more revenue than the federal government, an almost unique structure among federations in the world. Using its spending powers, the federal government can initiate national policies in provincial areas, such as the Canada Health Act; the provinces can opt out of these but rarely do so in practice. Equalization payments are made by the federal government to ensure that reasonably uniform standards of services and taxation are kept between the richer and poorer provinces. Cultural Capsule: Do not compare Canada with US Firm handshake and eye contact Little or casual touching Offensive gestures are the same in the US To signal waiter, raise your hand For the check, motion one hand as if you are writing In French-speaking Quebec, thumbs down is offensive Eating & Food: o In Quebec, do not eat on the street o In Quebec, nod the head to beckon the waiter o Dress appropriately for dinner o Food is reflective of the region & ethnic center: French pastries and bread in Quebec Potatoes, red meats and breads Wild rice, smoked fish, beef, smoked salmon and seafood Tourist Attractions 1. Newfoundland & Labrador a. St. Johns Area capital & largest city of this province b. Cape Spear Lighthouse oldest lighthouse c. Cape Boonavista Lighthouse d. Whale watching at Trinity e. Hiscock House 2. New Brunswick a.k.a. PICTURE PROVINCE 3. Prince Edward Island a. Charlottetown b. Green Gables House c. Lobster festivals 4. Quebec 5. Montreal 6. Ontario 7. Toronto a. Caribana (Caribbean Festival) b. Caravan (Multicultural Festival) 8. Ottawa 9. Niagara Falls (Canada View) 10. Alberta richest province in Canada 11. Vancouver new cit with modern architecture and has the second a. Vancouver Island b. The University of British Columbia c. Stanley Park (a thousand acre park) 12. Ski Resorts in Whistler and Blackoomb

f. g. h. i. j.

Alexander Graham Bell Museum Cape Breton Halifax worlds second largest natural harbour Citadel Fortress Nova Scotia

largest Chinatown in North America

United States of America (USA) Capital: Wasington, D.C. Largest City: New York City Official Languages: English People: American Form of Government: Federal Constitutional Republic Currency: US Dollars (USD) Cultural Capsule: Do not compare Canada with US Attitude is a lot more liberal compared to other regions or country in the world At age 18, people move out of their parents homes Public Display of Affection is acceptable Divorce is legal in several states Food & Eating o Preference is given to ready to eat or food to go o Usual food includes pot roast, hamburgers, salads, steaks, lamb chops, chicken and mashed potatoes. o Food is served usually in a set plate o Do not serve rice but has a carbohydrate component instead Mainstream American culinary arts are similar to those in other Western countries. Wheat is the primary cereal grain. Traditional American cuisine uses ingredients such as turkey, white-tailed deer venison, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, squash, and maple syrup, indigenous foods employed by Native Americans and early European settlers. Slowcooked pork and beef barbecue, crab cakes, potato chips, and chocolate chip cookies are distinctively American styles. Soul food, developed by African slaves, is popular around the South and among many African Americans elsewhere. Syncretism cuisines such as Louisiana Creole, Cajun, and Tex-Mex are regionally important. Characteristic dishes such as apple pie, fried chicken, pizza, hamburgers, and hot dogs derive from the recipes of various immigrants. French fries, Mexican dishes such as burritos and tacos, and pasta dishes freely adapted from Italian sources are widely consumed. Americans generally prefer coffee to tea. Marketing by U.S. industries is largely responsible for making orange juice and milk ubiquitous breakfast beverages. During the 1980s and 1990s, Americans' caloric intake rose 24%; frequent dining at fast food outlets is associated with what health officials call the American "obesity epidemic." Highly sweetened soft drinks are widely popular; sugared beverages account for 9% of the average American's caloric intake. There are a total of 52 states of the United States of America: 48 Continental states, Hawaii, and recently Puerto Rico The states are grouped into 9 regions: 1. New England o Connecticut o Massachusetts o Maine o New Hampshire 2. Mid Atlantic o New Jersey o New York 3. South Atlantic o Delaware o Georgia o District of o Maryland Columbia o North Carolina o Florida 4. East South Central o Alabama o Mississippi o Kentucky o Tennessee 5. East North Central o Illinois o Michigan o Indiana o Ohio 6. West South Central o Arkansas o Oklahoma o Louisiana o Texas 7. West North Central o Iowa o Nebraska o Kansas o North Dakota o Minnesota o South Dakota o Missouri 8. Mountain o Arizona o Nevada o Colorado o New Mexico o Idaho o Utah o Montana o Wyoming 9. Pacific o Alaska o Oregon o California o Washington o Hawaii Guam and Alaska,

o o o o o o

Rhode Island Vermont Pennsylvania South Carolina Virginia West Virginia

Wisconsin

To

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS Mark Twain Memorial Yale University Acadia National Park Portland Boston capital of Massachusetts JFK Library Central Park, NY Fifth Avenue, NY Shopping district Lincoln Center for Performing Arts, NY Rockefeller Center, NY Empire State Building, NY Statue of Liberty, NY Manhattan Bridge, NY Niagara Falls can be viewed on the side of NY Maid of the Mist Cruise along the Niagara Falls Amish Town in Pennsylvania Florida Keys Everglade National Park, FL Miami, FL Key Largo, FL Tampa, FL Orlando, FL Kennedy Space Center, FL Walt Disney World Resort, FL Magic Kingdom Park, FL Epcot, FL Disney-MGM Studios, FL

28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52.

Typhoon Lagoon, FL worlds largest water park Universal Studios, FL Daytona Beach, FL Washington DC, MD Baltimore, MD White House US Naval Academy, MD Rocket Center, AL Mississippi River Parthenon, TN --- replica of that of the Athens Parthenon Graceland, TN --- home of Elvis Presley Chicago, IL Detroit-Grand Rapids Cleveland, OH NASA, TX Las Vegas, NV Seattle, WA Space Needle, WA Jackson Square Times Square Park, NY Grand Canyon, Colorado Harvard University, WA Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Hawaii Beach Resorts Anchorage, Alaska

Note: There are a lot more attractions not listed above that are found in USA. US States and Capitals Official State Name Common Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado State Code AL AK AZ AR CA CO Capital Montgomery Juneau Phoenix Little Rock Sacramento Denver Hartford Dover Tallahassee Atlanta Honolulu Boise Springfield Indianapolis Des Moines Topeka Most Populous Slogan City Birmingha Share the Wonder m Beyond Your Dreams, Within Your Anchorage Reach Phoenix Little Rock Los Angeles Denver The Grand Canyon State The Natural State (Land of Opportunity) Find Yourself Here Colorful Colorado Enter a Higher State Rocky Mountain High Small Wonder Its Good Being First Georgia on My Mind The Islands of Aloha Aloha State Great Potatoes. Tasty Destinations. Mile After Magnificent Mile Right Here Right Now

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

State of Alabama State of Alaska State of Arizona State of Arkansas State of California State of Colorado State of Connecticut State of Delaware

Connecticut CT Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS

Bridgeport Full of Surprises Wilmington

9. State of Florida 10. State of Georgia 11. State of Hawaii (Hawaiian) 12. State of Idaho 13. State of Illinois 14. State of Indiana 15. State of Iowa 16. State of Kansas

Jacksonville Sunshine State Atlanta Honolulu Boise Chicago

Indianapoli Restart your Engines s Des Moines Fields of Opportunity Wichita Land of Ahhs (pronounced as Oz)

17. Commonwealth of
Kentucky

Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland

KY LA ME MD

Frankfort Baton Rouge Augusta Annapolis Boston Lansing Saint Paul Jackson Jefferson City Helena Lincoln Carson City Concord Trenton Santa Fe Albany Raleigh Bismarck Columbus Oklahoma City Salem Harrisburg Providence Columbia Pierre Nashville Austin Salt Lake City Montpelier Richmond Olympia Charleston Madison Cheyenne

Louisville New Orleans Portland Baltimore Boston Detroit

Unbridled Spirits Sportsmans Paradise Vacationland Seize the Day Off The Spirit of America Pure Michigan

18. State of Louisiana 19. State of Maine 20. State of Maryland 21. Commonwealth of
Massachusetts

Massachuse MA tts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada MI MN MS MO MT NE NV

22. State of Michigan 23. State of Minnesota 24. State of Mississippi 25. State of Missouri 26. State of Montana 27. State of Nebraska 28. State of Nevada 29. State of New Hampshire 30. State of New Jersey 31. State of New Mexico 32. State of New York 33. State of North Carolina 34. State of North Dakota 35. State of Ohio 36. State of Oklahoma 37. State of Oregon 38. Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania

Minneapoli Explore Minnesota s Feels Like Coming Home Jackson The Souths Warmest Welcome The Cave State Kansas City Show Me State Billings Omaha Las Vegas Big Sky Country PossibilitiesEndless Wide Open

New NH Hampshire New Jersey NJ New Mexico NM New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon NY NC ND OH OK OR

Manchester Youre Going to Love it Here Newark New Jersey and You: Perfect Together

Albuquerqu Land of Enchantment e I Love New York New York The Big Apple Charlotte Fargo Columbus Oklahoma City Portland A Better Place to Be Legendary Birth Place of Aviation Oklahoma is OK Native America Pacific Wonderland

Pennsylvani PA a Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Texas Utah Vermont Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming RI SC SD

Philadelphi State of Independence a Providence Unwind Columbia Smiling Faces. Beautiful Places.

39. State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations

40. State of South Carolina 41. State of South Dakota 42. State of Tennessee 43. State of Texas 44. State of Utah 45. State of Vermont 46. Commonwealth of Virginia 47. State of Washington 48. State of West Virginia 49. State of Wisconsin 50. State of Wyoming

Sioux Falls Great Faces. Great Places. Memphis Houston Salt Lake City Virginia Beach Seattle Sounds Good To Me State of the Arts Its Like a Whole Other Country Utah! Where Ideas Connect

Tennessee TN TX UT VT VA

Burlington Vermont, naturally Virginia is for Lovers SayWA!

Washington WA WV WI WY

Charleston Open for Business Milwaukee Americas Dairyland Cheyenne Like No Place on Earth

SOUTH AMERICA South America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean; North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest. Countries in South America COUNTRY CAPITAL Argentina Buenos Aires Brazil Brasilia Colombia Bogota Falkland Islands Stanley Paraguay Auncion Suriname Paramaribo Venezuela Caracas COUNTRY Bolivia Chile Ecuador Guyana Peru Uruguay CAPITAL La Paz, Sucre Santiago Quito Georgetown Lima Montevideo