The Geography of the United States

5/31/12 Aim: What important geographical features does the United States have? How do they all contribute to making this country as important as it is? Objective: Students will identify the major geographical features of the United States. Do Now/: What is the section of the country where we live known as? Close: Match the cities to their region. Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, New York, Boston, Las Vegas, Charleston, Oklahoma City, Portland, Kansas City. What is each region known for?

US Geography Basics Third largest country in the world. Half the size of Russia. One third the size of Africa. Half the size of South America. 2 ½ times the size of Western Europe.

Regions & Time Zones of the U. S.

Topography

Topography of the US. Where are 80% of the nation’s mountains located?

Topography of the Northeast. What characteristics do you see regarding the Northeast? Does it have mostly high or flat land? Do you see oceans, rivers, etc? What makes the Northeast perfect for farming and trading?

New York’s Canals… Based on the map on the left, what do you notice about NY State? Why was NY established as a perfect center for trade?

Erie Canal

North-South Divide: The Mason-Dixon Line

Topography of the Southeast When you look at this map, what do you see? How is it alike in comparison to the map of the Northeast? Is it mostly flat? What is mostly flat land good for?

Charleston, SC: The South’s First Port

Topography of the Midwest When you look at this map of the Midwest, what do you see? Would this be a good place to farm? To trade? What is difference about this map and the map of the Northeast & the map of the Southeast?

The Great Plains

Topography of the West. When you look at this map, what do you see? How is it different than the other maps we have looked at? What is the West’s location good for?

Bodies of Water Great Salt Lake Chesapeake Bay Lake Okeechobee

Rivers St. Lawrence R. Columbia R. Missouri R. Hudson R. Potomac R. Mississippi R. Ohio R. Colorado R. Arkansas R. Rio Grande R. Yukon R.

The Mississippi: America’s Great River Road The “Big Muddy”. 2,350 miles. Draining all or part of 31 states & 2 Canadian provinces. Covers 40% of the U. S.

Mississippi Riverboat

The Gulf of Mexico

Mountains & Plateaus. Why do mountains pose problems for farming Mountains & Plateaus. Why do mountains pose problems for farming? For trade & travel? Adirondack Mts. Cascade Mts. Rocky Mts. Sierra Nevada Mts. ^ Mt. Whitney Appalachian Mts. ^ Pike’s Peak ^ Mt. McKinley Alaskan Range

Atlantic Coastal Plains Plains. Where can plains be found throughout the country? What are plains perfect for? Great Basin Central Plains Atlantic Coastal Plains Gulf Coastal Plains

The Great Plains

Deserts. Where are the nation’s deserts found? Death Valley Mohave Desert

Mohave Desert

Atlantic Coastal Plains Completed Map St. Lawrence R. Columbia R. Adirondack Mts. Cascade Mts. Missouri R. Hudson R. Rocky Mts. Great Basin Potomac R. Great Salt Lake Cumberland Plateau Mississippi R. Chesapeake Bay Central Plains Sierra Nevada Mts. ^ Mt. Whitney Appalachian Mts. Ohio R. Colorado R. ^ Pike’s Peak Death Valley Arkansas R. Atlantic Coastal Plains Mohave Desert Gulf Coastal Plains Lake Okeechobee Rio Grande R. Yukon R. ^ Mt. McKinley Alaskan Range

Climate

What type of climate is in the Northeast? Southeast? Midwest? West Coast? Southwest?

Where does it rain the most in the country? What is this used for? Where does it rain the least and why?