Kansas History Ch. 1 Home on the Range

Chapter 1 Home on the Range “America’s Heartland” This is the nickname given to Kansas because it is the center of U.S. The center of the U.S. is in Smith County, near Lebanon Absolute Location Giving a location using longitude and latitude Longitude – distance east/west of prime meridian Latitude – distance north/south from equator Relative Location Giving a location by using another place for reference.

Chapter 1 Home on the Range Physical Features – Used by geographers to divide KS into 2 Regions Kansas is NOT flat.... Even though we have 0 mountains. Kansas SLOWLY rises in elevation from East to West. Rises about 10 feet per mile. Kansas is environmentally diverse. Eastern Kansas – has wooded areas and rolling hills Western Kansas – has high plains Most well known feature is the prairie. Area too wet for desert, but too dry to be a forest.

Chapter 1 Home on the Range Permian Sea Giant inland sea through the middle of North America. If people lived in Kansas at the time they would travel by boat. Mosasaurs Giant water reptiles, could grow up to 50 feet long. Remains are used as energy sources Many fossils can still be found throughout Kansas Castle Rock – popular sight to find fossils of prehistoric organisms

Chapter 1 Home on the Range Weather Classified as DRAMATIC weather. Record temperatures: High 121, Low -40 Tornado Alley Warm and Cool Air mix in this region causing higher chances for Tornadoes. Kansas also experiences: Blizzards, Droughts, and Floods STOP! End of Part #1

Chapter 1 Home on the Range Grasslands Prairies are characterized by either tall grasses or short grasses. East = Tall Grass, Central = Mixture, West = Short Grass Kansas is known as the “Sunflower State” Home to 12 different species of sunflowers. Prairie Fires Positive for the life cycle. Contributed to the growth of Prairie in KS One of the main reasons Kansas has few forests.

Chapter 1 Home on the Range Human Environmental Interaction Dust Bowl Area of land where vegetation has been lost, soil is reduced to dust Causes: Erosion, Drought, Windstorms Ogallala Aquifer Underground pool of water Causes: Drought, Water for Irrigation, Winds Cause Evaporation Movement Kansas is a crossroads. Indians relocated here, immigrants established new lives, and even the Pony Express passed through Kansas.