Map Skills Physical Features & Man-Made Features Mrs. Walker 4 th Grade
Atlantic Coastal Plain
2,220 miles from New York to Florida It includes many rivers, marshes and swamps Soil is rich for agriculture
Great Plains
Just east of the Rocky Mountains Large expanses of grasslands with few trees Climate is harsh with dust storms, difficult winters and low rainfall Homestead Act of 1862 gave people the incentive to move to this region (westward expansion)
Continental Divide
“ The Great Divide” (drainage divide) Separates the “watersheds” of the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic/Artic Oceans Runs from Alaska along the Rocky Mountains to the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico
The Great Basin
Largest interior watershed in the United States Collection basin that has no outflow to rivers or ocean Arid (dry) conditions Covers a wide area of land from Reno, Nevada to Salt Lake City, Utah.
Death Valley
Death Valley- View from space
Death Valley Located in Eastern California Hottest and driest location in North America Average high in July is 116 degrees Fahrenheit. Record high of 134 degrees Fahrenheit. Badwater Basin is located in Death Valley. The lowest elevation in America, 282 feet below sea level.
Gulf of Mexico
Ocean basin surrounded by North America and the island of Cuba Called the “third coast” Known for its warm beautiful, clear waters
Great Lakes
Collection of freshwater lakes on the Canada and United States border Connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the St. Lawrence River Made of 5 Lakes (HOMES): Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior Major source of trade and aquatic species
St. Lawrence River
Large river connecting the Great Lakes and Atlantic Ocean. Forms part of the international boundary between Ontario, Canada and New York.
New York City, NY
New York City, NY (1920)
New York City, NY (Today)
New York City, NY Crucial city during the Revolutionary War Seized by the British in 1776 Throughout history continued to be an important city for trade Today it is the most populous city in the United States
Boston, MA
Boston, MA (1918)
Boston, MA (Today)
Boston, MA Central role in American history Settled by Puritans in 1630 Center of trade for New England region American Revolutionary War erupted here in reaction Boston Tea Party
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA (1920)
Philadelphia, PA (Today)
Philadelphia, PA Founded in 1682 by William Penn Busiest and largest city in British America Played an instrumental role during the Revolutionary War Meeting place for the Founding Fathers
Erie Canal
363 miles from Albany, NY (Hudson River) to Buffalo, NY (Lake Erie) Navigable water route from Atlantic Ocean to Great Lakes Completed in October 1825 Cut transportation costs for goods by 95%