Natural Resources

U.S. Major features Long mountain ranges on either side of the US The Appalachian Mountains in the East The Rock Mountains in the West In the middle = plains The Mississippi River is the longest The Great Lakes

The Nations Resources A resource is something people use to produce goods and services. Can be found everywhere across the U.S. Types of resources Natural Nonrenewable Renewable Flow Capital Human

Natural Found in nature like water, coal, oil. Renewable resources can be replaced. Fisheries (resource renews itself) Nonrenewable resources cannot be replaced. Oil removed from the ground (no oil will take its place) Flow resources can only be used where/when they are found Wind power (only while the wind is blowing) Other examples: sunlight and water

Capital Resources Made by people Human resources Include tools, machines, and buildings People need these to make goods and services Human resources People and skills and knowledge they have that are used to work Examples: farmers and their knowledge of crops and teachers and their knowledge of how to teach students

Landforms, Resources, and People Some resources are not available in all areas Peoples lives are shaped by what resources and geography is around them Example: building communities around rivers Land good for crops Water good for drinking

Scarcity Not having enough resources to provide for all our needs and wants Needs are things we cannot live without Wants are things we would like to have Forces people to decide what they want most The thing we don’t choose is our opportunity cost Countries solve this by having an economic system or set of rules that guides what we use (resources) and what we make What, how, and who is decided by individuals instead of the government in the U.S. (free enterprise)