LANDFORMS Chapter 1

Massachusetts down the East coast around Texas and into Mexico Coastal Plain Flat, low land Along Atlantic Coast Very fertile land Massachusetts down the East coast around Texas and into Mexico

“at the base of a mountain” Region of hills & valleys Piedmont “at the base of a mountain” Region of hills & valleys Eastern side of Appalachian Mountains Begins in New Jersey extending to Alabama http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect6/MapPiedmontUS01.jpg

Appalachian Mountains Southern Canada to central Alabama Oldest mountains in U.S. Peaks worn down by glaciers, rain, wind (aka  erosion) http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/willow/the-appalachians0.gif

Stretch from Appalachians to the Rocky Mountains in west Interior Plains Stretch from Appalachians to the Rocky Mountains in west Two parts: Eastern side called Central plains Flat or rolling hills Many trees and rivers Western part called Interior Plains flatter Few trees and rivers

Central plains called tall-grass prairies Flat or rolling land Covered by grasses Central plains called tall-grass prairies

Covers most of Western U.S. Largest & longest U.S. mountain range Rocky Mountains Covers most of Western U.S. Largest & longest U.S. mountain range Mexico through Canada into Alaska Younger than Appalachian mtn. Sharp jagged peaks  haven’t been eroded

Mountain comparison

Part of the Intermountain Region (between Rockies and land west) Great Basin Part of the Intermountain Region (between Rockies and land west) Mostly dry land Includes Nevada and 5 neighboring states Basin – low bowl shaped land with higher land around Death Valley, CA – edge of G.B. lowest land in North America.

“snowy mountain range” Eastern side – very steep Sierra Nevada California “snowy mountain range” Eastern side – very steep Cascade Range north of Sierra Nevada in Washington & Oregon http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/places/states/california/ca_sierra.htm

Compare Coasts Atlantic Coast Pacific Coast Flat Fertile land Rocky Sharp drops into ocean Little flat land http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=60572&rendTypeId=4 http://pinker.wjh.harvard.edu/photos/santa_barbara_california/pages/Pacific%20Coast%20highway%20south%202.htm

http://upload. wikimedia http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Barker_Inlet_location.png Inlet area of water extending into the land from a larger body of water

http://gulfofmexicomap.com/ Gulf The largest inlets

Sound Long inlet that separates offshore islands from the mainland. http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2005/01/puget-soundLG.jpg Sound Long inlet that separates offshore islands from the mainland.

Great Lakes Largest lakes in U.S. Along boarder between U.S. & Canada http://www.divinglore.com/Genesis/USA/Great_Lakes_&_Inland_Sites.htm Great Lakes Largest lakes in U.S. Along boarder between U.S. & Canada HOMES  Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior

Great Salt Lake Utah Salty like the Ocean http://faculty.washington.edu/jsachs/lab/www/Research/Canada_Expedition_2007/Great_Salt_Lake_map2.jpg Great Salt Lake Utah Salty like the Ocean

Tributary Stream or river that flows into a larger stream or river.

River System A river and its tributaries. http://www.mapofmississippi.com/map_of_mississippi.cfm River System A river and its tributaries. Drain, or carries water away from, the land around it.

Drainage Basin The land drained by a river system. http://serc.carleton.edu/images/research_education/katrina/drainage.gif Drainage Basin The land drained by a river system. Mississippi River – flows from Minnesota to Gulf of Mexico and is the largest rivers system in the U.S.

Fall Line A place where the land drops sharply http://lpetrov.net/niagara/p2160189_mini.jpg Fall Line A place where the land drops sharply Cases rivers to form waterfalls or rapids.

Continental Divide Imaginary lines runs north & south along the highest points of the Rockies. Divides major rivers systems in North America.