Class 8 Social Science Short Notes 2026-27

1.8 NORTH AMERICA: MOUNTAINS AND LAKES

The western part of North America is occupied by the Rocky Mountains, which extend for more than 4,800 kilometres. These mountains are rich in minerals such as copper, gold and silver, and the region supports mining, hydropower, tourism and farming. For thousands of years the Rockies were home to many Native American communities, who regarded the mountains as sacred; many of their descendants now live on reservations.

In the east lie the Appalachian Mountains, which are among the oldest mountain ranges in the world. Their fertile valleys provided routes and game to indigenous communities such as the Cherokee. Today the region produces coal, timber and natural gas, and tourism and renewable energy are growing in importance.

Between Canada and the United States lie the Great Lakes, a chain of five large freshwater lakes. They provide shipping routes and drinking water and are an important habitat for wildlife, but they have been threatened by chemical contamination and by run-off from farms and industries. In Yellowstone National Park, the reintroduction of wolves in 1995 reduced the number of elk, allowing plants along the rivers to grow back.