Topography
- The Appalachian Region is located along the east coast, and extends for 2400 km from Newfoundland, west through the Maritime Provinces and south to Alabama & Georgia.
- Mountainous with rolling hills and mountains, which were once sharp and jagged, and caused by erosion.
- These mountains were formed 300,000,000 years ago
- They contain fertile plateaus & river valleys
- Deposits of coal, oil, and gas are found in the sedimentary layers of rock, which are formed by the erosion of other rocks.
Climate
- The climate is affected by 2 ocean currents: The Labrador Current, and the Gulf Stream.
- The Labrador carries cold water from the Arctic, and freezes during the winter months. The Gulf Stream brings warm water from the Caribbean, and south coast of North America.
- The meeting of the two bodies paves way for an ideal breeding ground by strengthening the growth of plankton, and food for aquatic lifeforms.
- The northern Appalachians bring cold winters and mild summers, while the south has hot summers and warmer winters. Both parts of the region bring in good amounts of precipitation, more so in the winter months.
Vegetation
- The Appalachians are heavily forested with mixed coniferous and deciduous trees.
- These trees could survive in the poor mountain soil, and flourish on the plateaus & in river valleys, where soil is more productive.
- Trees living beside rivers and bodies of water are in much richer soil, benefiting their health and durability.
Economic Activity
- The industries common in the Appalachians include coal mining, forestry, agriculture, chemical, heavy industry, manufacturing and service
- Data from 2007-2011 concluded that the poverty rate within the Appalachian Region was 16.1%
- Economically distressed American counties from that time period was 93, a huge improvement from years back where the number would be 200+
- Appalachian towns & regions are shown to suffer more economical issues than the other North American physical regions
Environmental Concerns
- A major environmental concern of the Appalachians is a method of mining used commonly, called mountaintop removal mining.
- Mountaintop removal mining involves clearing mountains by cutting down trees and digging up topsoil
- Used to mine coal deposits buried within the bodies of the mountains
- This method leaves the affected area prone to landslides & flooding, loss of biodiversity, and also several health impacts
- Several studies have concluded that residents who live near sites of mountaintop removal mining, are at risk of suffering a 50% increase in cancer rates and 42% increase in birth defects