The United States: by Regions

The Western States Landforms –Pacific Ranges Sierra Nevada Cascade Coastal Alaska Range Highest peak –Mount McKinley »Alaska –Rocky Mts Link Canada and U.S.

In between Mts. –Grand Canyon –Columbia Plateau –Great Basin Death Valley: hottest and lowest place in U.S. Water –Continental Divide Follow the Rockies, determine direction rivers flow –Colorado River Source in Rockies –Rio Grande Source in Rockies Economic Resources –Minerals –Fishing –Livestock –Farming

Climate –Mid-Latitude: Marine West Coastal Mediterranean (California) –Desert Mojave and Chihuahua –Highland b/c of elevation of the Rockies Timberline:

Population Centers –Pacific Coast Pleasant climate, many natural resources/eco opp California is most populated state –Megalopolis: “great city” San Francisco-Los Angeles-San Diego –All have major ports –The “Bay Area” –Northern California Megaregion Seattle –Major port Silicon Valley –San Francisco Bay area

The Midwest Landforms –Great Plains Water –Great Lakes –Mississippi River Resources –Farming “Wheat Belt”: Great Plain and Canadian Prairies “Corn Belt”: Ohio-Nebraska Dairyland: New York State to Minnesota –Traditional region for dairy farmers

Climate (Great Plains) –Humid Continental Bitter cold winters, hot summers Super Cells/ Tornadoes Vegetation: Prairie –Tall grasses, no trees –Dust Bowl 1930s, caused by drought and poor farming techniques Top soil b/cme barren wasteland Same time as Great Depression

Population Centers –Detroit Center of car manufacturing industry –Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Pittsburg Connect to Ohio River Least populated areas –Arid parts of Great plains Rust Belt –Cities near Great Lakes Buffalo, Detroit, Cleveland, etc. –Traditional manufacturing centers, loose $ and people when business move South

The South Landforms –Coastal Plains –Appalachians Mts Water –Mississippi River –Rio Grande –Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Connect FL to TX w/ Miss Rvr Resources –Fuel (oil and natural gas) –Farming

Climate –Humid subtropical Long muggy summers, mild winter –Hurricanes Wetlands/Swamps –Florida Region: “Sunbelt” Southern states Mild climate Fastest growing pop. Area Draw many immigrants b/c close to Mexico and Caribbean

Population Centers –Miami –New Orleans –Texas Triangle: Houston, D/FW, San Antonio Megalopolis

The Northeast Landforms –Appalachian Mts From Quebec to Alabama Fall Line:_________________________ –Adirondack Mts –Islands: Manhattan Water –St. Lawrence River –Great Lakes Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway: connect to Atlantic Ocean –Niagara Falls Source of hydroelectric power for both U.S. and Canada

Resources –Fishing –Timber –Financial Center of U.S. Climate –Humid Continental Hot summers, Cold Winters Winter Blizzards Population Centers –“BosWash” Boston-New York-Washington, D.C.-Philadelphia-Baltimore North East Corridor