Question

mark main industrial regions of information and technology on world physical map.

Answer 1

About four-fifth of the industrial output in this region is contributed from United States of America. Another major producing country is Canada.

(i) United States of America:

USA is the most dominant industrial super-power in the world. The total contribution of industry in the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 1995 was 31 per cent of the total i.e. $ 6,952,020 million. The value of Merchandise import and export in 1996 was $ 814,888 and $ 575,477, respectively. At least 26% of the population are directly or indirectly involved in manufacturing activities.



The manufacturing activities are available almost in all states, though some regions have wider concentration of industries, particularly in the north-eastern states. It is, however, very difficult to delineate the boundaries of different industrial regions, because most of the regions are geographically inseparable.

The industrial units in USA may broadly fall into following regions:

1. The New England Regions.

2. The New York-Mid-Atlantic Region.



3. Mid-Western Region.

4. North-Eastern Region.

5. The Southern Region.

6. Western Region.

7. The Pacific Region.

1. The New England Region:

The vast New England industrial region comprises six states, namely Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. This is the largest single industrial region on earth. The nucleus of the region is Boston Metropolitan region. The major industries in this region are electrical machinery, textiles, machinery, leather, fabricated metals and other industries.

In fact, industrial structure here is very diversified. This is one of the oldest industrial regions in USA,contributing 15 per cent of the yearly output of the nation. The major centres in this region are Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. This industrial region enjoys advantages of huge capital, good communication, export facilities, cheap and skilled labour and vast market.





2. The New York and Mid-Atlantic Region:

This region extends from New York to Balti­more. In Middle Atlantic States, industrial centres are scattered over New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Philadelphia and Baltimore. Other smaller centres are Sparrows Point, Bethlehem etc. In New York region, the centres are Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, Utice etc. This industrial region contributes variety of manufacturing items but steel production in the region is quite spectacular.

3. The Mid-Lake Region:

This is the region having greatest concentration of ferrous industries. This region accounts about 1/4th of ferrous and Ferro-alloy products of the country. The famous Youngstown-Pittsburg-Johnstown iron and steel triangle is located in the region. The other steel producing areas are Wheeling, Cleveland, Louisville, Rook-ford, Flint, Steubenville and Detroit.

The other manufacturing centres engaged in diversified manufacturing activities are Chicago, Anderson, Midland, Iowa, St. Louis, Minneapolis etc. In cities like Detroit, several industries have developed including motor vehicles, machinery, fabricated metals, machine tools and electronics.



4. North-Eastern Region:

This region covers the industrial regions of the Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin etc. The combined output of the manufacturing goods in this region is very high.

5. The Southern Industrial Region:

The southern industrial region extends from North Carolina in the east to the Texas in the south central region of the country. The major industrial states in this region are Texas and North Carolina. The other states having considerable indus­tries are Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas.

Basically, this industrial region produces more agro-based items rather than the basic in­dustrial goods. The major industrial product includes textiles, food and beverages, tobacco and furniture. Apart from these industries, Texas region is having industries like petro-chemicals, aircraft and heavy chemicals.



6. The Western Region:

This is one of the less developed region in industry, comprises the states of Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Nevada and Arizona. This sparsely populated region is backward in industrial activities. Very recently, industry started to grow within the region.

7. The Pacific Coastal Region:

A narrow coastal strip running through Washington, Or­egon and California is the great industrial agglomeration of the Pacific coast. The major indus­trial nucleus of the area are San Francisco and Los Angeles. The major products of this industrial region are food and beverages, automobiles, aircraft, metal fabrication, petro-chemical and heavy chemicals etc. The smaller industrial centres are Portland, Seattle, Eugene, Sacramento, San Diego etc.