Chapter One: An Introduction to “Our Country’s Geography” United States History

Our Country’s Geography: Lesson 1: Land and Regions Lesson 2: Bodies of Water Lesson 3: Climate and Vegetation Regions Lesson 4: Using the Land Lesson 5: Where People Live and Work

Vocabulary: Lesson 1 Landform Mountain Range Piedmont Plateau Basin Volcano

Land Form Regions Since the geography of the US is so different, it has been divided into Landform Regions. Landforms are physical features on the earth’s surface. Can someone give me an example of a landform? Here is a hint:

America’s Largest Mountains The United States has two main mountain ranges…What are they? Rocky and Appalachians What is the definition of a Mountain Range? What is the definition of a piedmont? An area at or near the foot of a mountain. On what coast would you find the Appalachian Mountains? The Rockies? Why are the Rocky Mountains more sharp and jagged while the Appalachians are worn down?

Appalachian Mountains These Mountains were formed over 250 Million years ago, and have been worn down over time.

The Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains are 25 million years old. Peaks in the Rockies are twice as tall as those in the Appalachian Range.

Regions of Plains The two largest Landform Regions in the United States are the Coastal Plain and the Interior Plain. The Coastal Plain region runs from the Atlantic Ocean in Massachusetts and runs to the Gulf of Mexico into Texas. The Interior Plains stretch across the middle of North America. Sea Level is the level of the surface of the oceans. A plateau is a broad area of high, mostly flat land.\ Where on the Map could you find the Gulf Coastal Plains?

Answer: The Gulf Coastal Plains can be found in the Southeastern Part of the United States.

A Region of Plains, Basins, & Plateaus. The Great Basin is located in Nevada and part of 5 neighboring states Death Valley in California is 280 feet below sea level. Basin: Low bowl shaped land with high land all around it.

Volcano Opening in the earth through which hot lava gases, ash, and rocks may pour out. Sometimes the lava and ash rush up to form a mountain.

Bodies of Water: Oceans From Largest to Smallest: the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, and the Artic Ocean. The Pacific Ocean alone covers more than 1/3 of the Earth’s surface. A Current is that part of a body of water flowing in a certain direction. Tides are the regular rise and fall of an ocean and of the bodies of water connected to it.

Gulfs, Bays, & Inlets An inlet is any area of water extending into the land from a larger body of water. A sound is a long inlet that often separates offshore islands from the mainland. The Great Lakes are the worlds largest collection of freshwater lakes. Can you name the Great Lakes?

The Great Lakes