Final answer:
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Lowlands are home to a variety of industries including steel and automobile manufacturing in the U.S., and dairy farming, agriculture, and manufacturing in Canada's St. Lawrence River region. These industries have been historically fueled by the abundance of natural resources and an ample labor force.
Step-by-step explanation:
The industries present in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Lowlands are diverse and historically significant. In the northeastern United States and along the Great Lakes, there is a concentration of industries that were fueled by the proximity to raw materials and markets. These include the steel industry, which utilized iron ore from Minnesota transported via the Great Lakes, and coal from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and other parts of Appalachia. The Manufacturing Belt in this area included textiles, steel, and later, automobile manufacturing in Michigan, facilitated by an abundant supply of power from coal mining.
Meanwhile, the St. Lawrence River region in Canada is noted for its fertile farmland, supporting dairy farms and agriculture, providing food to the larger cities. This area also includes Quebec, where the economy encompasses manufacturing powered by hydroelectricity, tourism, and a range of tertiary and quaternary industries. Montreal, being the largest French-speaking city in the Western hemisphere, has developed into an industrial center with refineries and steel mills.
Ultimately, the Industrial Revolution and the abundance of natural resources and power sources shaped the industries in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Lowlands, which continue to be economically significant for both the United States and Canada.