Ecological Regions: Level 1 Regions
North AmericaPhysical EnvironmentExtent of the Level I Ecological Regions of North America
EPAA map of North America shows various ecological regions, each marked with a distinct color to represent different Level 1 ecological regions.
Arctic Cordillera (Red): Found in the northernmost parts of Canada, specifically the Arctic Archipelago. Tundra (Blue): Covers large portions of northern Canada, including parts of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, as well as coastal areas of Alaska. Taiga (Purple): Spans across central and northern Canada, covering parts of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. Hudson Plain (Orange): Located in the northeastern part of Canada, around the Hudson Bay area. Boreal Forests (Yellow): Encompasses large areas in Canada, south of the tundra and taiga regions, and extends into parts of Newfoundland and Labrador. Northwestern Forested Mountains (Green): Found along the western coast of Canada and the United States, covering parts of British Columbia and Alaska. Marine West Coast Forest (Brown): Occupies the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest, including areas in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and northern California. Eastern Temperate Forests (Pink): Stretch from the Great Lakes region through the northeastern United States and into eastern Canada. Great Plains (Grey): Span the central United States from Canada to Texas, including parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and several central U.S. states. Deserts and Steppes (Dark Green): Found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, covering areas in Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of California and Nevada. Mediterranean California (Dark Pink): Specific to the coastal regions of central and southern California. Southern Semi-Arid Highlands (Gold): Located in central Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States. Temperate Sierras (Dark Brown): Found in Mexico, primarily in the Sierra Madre ranges. Tropical Dry Forests (Light Brown): Present in parts of southern Mexico and Central America. Tropical Wet Forests (Light Tan): Located in the southeastern part of Mexico and Central America, including the Yucatan Peninsula.
Arctic Cordillera | Tundra | Taiga | Hudson Plain | Boreal forests | Northwestern forested mountains | Marine west coast forest | Eastern temperate forests | Great Plains | Deserts and steppes | Mediterranean California | Southern semi-arid highlands | Temperate sierras | Tropical wet forests | Class | Rank | Million people | No data | Arid and low water use | Low (<10%) | Low-medium (10-20%) | Medium-high (20-40%) | High (40-80%) | Extremely high (>80%) | South Central | Northeast | Southeast | Northeast | West | Central | North Central | Central | Southwest | Upper Delta | Southeast | Northeast | West Central | Upper Plains | East Central | Northeast Prairie | North Central | West Central | East Central | West Southwest | East Central | Central | South Central | Coastal Plain | South Central | Central | Northern Valley | Northwest Prairie | Southeast | Lower Delta | North Central | Northeast | South Central | Southeast | South Central | West Central Plains | Central | Northwest | East Central | South Central | Central | East Central | South Central | Southwest | Southwest | Eastern | Prairie | North Central | Bootheel | Southeast | East Southeast | Northwest | East | Northwest | Southeast | Appalachian Mountain | North Central | Central | East Central | Southwest | South Central | East Ozarks | East Central | South Central | Northwest | Southeast | Southwest | North Central | Northeast | Southwest | Low Rolling Plains | Southeast | Southeast | Central | Northeast | Southwest | Southeast | East Central | Northeast | North Central | Eastern | West Ozarks | Northwest | Central | Southwest | Central | West Central | Western | North Central | Gulf | Southeast | Northeast | Western Plateau | Cumberland Plateau | North Central | Western | Edwards Plateau | Central | West Central | Blue Grass | Central | East Central | Middle | Piedmont Plateau | Central | Southern | North Central | Panhandle | Northeast | Southeast | Southwestern | South Central | West Central | Eastern Valley | Northeast | Southwest Plateau | East Texas | South Central | Central Mountains | West Central | Central | Northwest | Southwest | East Central | Northeast | North Central | Northwestern | West Central | Coastal | Southwestern Mountain | Southwest | Southern Mountains | Southwest | South Central | Central | Northwest | South Central | Central | West Central | Mountain | North Central | Southwest | North Central | West Central | West Central | Northwest | South Central Lower | Central Lakes | Allegheny Plateau | South Central Mountains | Northwest | West Central | South Central | Northeastern | Southwest | North Central | Northeast | Central Mountain | South Panhandle | Mohawk Valley | Northwest | Southwest | Upper Susquehanna | Central Hills | South | Southwest Lower | South Central | Northwest | Northwest | East Central | North Central | Southeast | Aleutians | Northeast Interior | Central | Northern Mountains | Northwest Plateau | Middle Susquehanna | Northeastern | Snake Drainage | Western Piedmont | Eastern Plateau | Northeast | Upper Coast | Northwest | Southeast Interior | Central | North Central | Northwest | West Central | Appalachian Mountains | Southeastern | Central Piedmont | North Central | East Central | Central Coastal Plain | Northeast Hills | Northeastern | Southwest | High Plains | North | Eastern Piedmont | North | Northern Piedmont | Great Lakes | Northern Coastal Plain | Bristol Bay | Southern Piedmont | Northwest Gulf | East Central | Southeast | Northern Plateau | West Olympic Coast | North | Cook Inlet | Central | North Central | Champlain Valley | South Interior | Southern | West Central Lower | Black Hills | Northeast | Southern Coastal Plain | South Central | Lower Valley | Yellowstone Drainage | Wind River | Central Lower | North Central | Okanogan Big Bend | Southeast Lower | Northeast | Cheyenne Niobrara Drainage | Northeast Gulf | East Central Lower | Northeast | Central Interior | Tidewater | Pocono Mountains | West Upper | Northern | Western | Kansas Drainage | East Upper | Arkansas Drainage | Everglades and Southwest Coast | East Olympic Cascade Foothills | Panhandle | West | St | Central Basin | Cascade Mountains West | Northern Cascades | Puget Sound Lowlands | Northern Mountains | Rio Grande Drainage | Southwestern Mountains | East Central Mountains | South Central | Big Horn | Lower Susquehanna | Powder, Little Mo and Tongue Drainages | South | Southeast | Eastern Highlands | Lower East Coast | West Coast | Northeastern | North Slope | Hudson Valley | Southeastern | Southwestern | Trans Pecos | Northeastern Plains | Coastal | Belle Fourche Drainage | North Central Prairies | Panhandle | Northwest | Upper Snake River Plains | Western | North Central | East Slope Cascades | Green and Bear Drainage | Northeast Lower | Southern Desert | Central | Lower Southern | Platte Drainage | Central Mountains | Willamette Valley | Coastal Area | Upper Platte | Central | Sacramento Drainage | Southwestern Highlands | North Central Canyons | Southeastern Piedmont | East Central | Lower Platte | Northeast | Northeastern Shore | Northeast | Northeastern Valleys | Northeastern | Northwest Lower | North Central | Northwestern Plateau | Upper Southern | Southwestern Valleys | Central Eastern Shore | Northern | North Coast Drainage | Palouse Blue Mountains | Northern Mountains | Coastal | San Joaquin Drainage | Central Valley | Central Coast Drainage | Northern | High Plateau | Northeast Interior Basins | Coastal | Central Plains | Southeast | Southern | Southeastern Shore | Western | Central Highlands | Southeastern Plains | Northwest | South Central | North Central | Rhode Island (Entire State) | Northwestern | Southern | Coastal | South Central | Colorado Drainage | North Central | Southwestern Valleys | South Central | South Coast Drainage | Coastal | Southwest | Dixie | Uinta Basin | Southeast | Southeast Desert Basins | Extreme Southern | South Central | |
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1.96% | 6.84% | 22.1% | 11.9% | 32.1% | 29.3% | 5.59% | 34.8% | 38.2% | 26.9% | 39.7% | 6.89% | 11.3% | 14.5% | 0.654% | 3.65% | 47.2% | 4.86% | 6.22% | 9.97% | 14.9% |