Pennsylvania’s Natural Resources

Natural Resources Natural Resources: Things made by nature that are useful to people Water Soil Forests Minerals

Pennsylvania’s Natural Resources Rivers, Soil, and Forests

Rivers River systems: A group of streams and smaller rivers that flow into a larger river P.A. has 3 Main River Systems: Delaware Susquehanna Ohio

Rivers Provide…. Drinking water Transportation “highway” Hydroelectric Power Recreation

The Delaware River

The Delaware River The Delaware flows down the eastern border of Pennsylvania. It forms the eastern natural boundary of PA. This river flows into the Delaware Bay, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The Delaware River is part of the Atlantic Ocean Watershed.

The Delaware River The Delaware River is a Lotic System. A Lotic System is a flowing water system, such as, a river, stream, or spring. The Delaware River is NOT a Lentic System. A Lentic System is a system of still water, such as, a lake or pond.

Can you guess some reasons why the Delaware River is important to PA?

The Delaware River Transportation Drinking Water Power Recreation Home to wildlife

Other Pennsylvania Rivers Susquehanna River This river flows through the central part of the state. This is the river that flows by Jersey Shore. The Susquehanna River flows into the Chesapeake Bay and is also part of the Atlantic Ocean Watershed.

Other Pennsylvania Rivers The Ohio River This river flows in the western part of the state and meets up with two other rivers in Pittsburgh. The Ohio River is part of the Mississippi Watershed. The Mississippi River is a waterway that leads to the Gulf of Mexico.

Pennsylvania Rivers With a dry erase marker, trace the flow of this Pennsylvania River on your World Map. The Ohio River What other bodies of water did you “meet-up” with? Where did you end up?

Soil Southeastern PA and Lake Erie are good areas for farming. The soil there has large amounts of limestone; a mineral plants need to grow

Soil The soil there has large amounts of limestone; a mineral plants need to grow

What are some of the crops grown in PA? PA Crops What are some of the crops grown in PA? List as many as you can on a sticky note.

PA Crops Corn, oats, wheat, hay Apples, peaches, grapes Largest producer of mushrooms

Forests Trees grow well in the Northern part of P.A. Many trees were cut down, their wood used for building Paper Furniture P.A. is the Christmas tree capital of the U.S.A

A Pennsylvania Forest

Williamsport: Lumber Capital Williamsport was once the lumber capital of the world More millionaires were living in Williamsport than anywhere else in the country

The Lumber Era: 1800’s Men built small shacks in the woods and cut down trees all year.

The Lumber Era: 1800’s

The Lumber Era: 1800’s Logs were put in the Susquehanna River and trapped in the “boom” near Williamsport.

The Lumber Era: 1800’s

The Lumber Era: 1800’s “Logjammers” hopped across the river on the logs to free logs that were jammed.

The Lumber Era: 1800’s Lumber was sent to lumber mills to be cut up and sold.

The Lumber Era: 1800’s

Pennsylvania’s Natural Resources Minerals: Coal, Oil and Natural Gas

Minerals Minerals: Things found in the earth that are neither plant nor animal Coal Oil Natural Gas Coal, oil, and natural gas can be burned as fuels. Fuel: Something that can be burned to make heat or power

Coal in Pennsylvania Soft Burn quickly Lots of smoke when burned Bituminous Anthracite Soft Burn quickly Lots of smoke when burned Western P.A. (Pittsburgh) Hard Burns slowly Less smoke when burned Eastern P.A. (Scranton and Hazleton)

Coal Mining Coal near the surface of ground Strip mining Underground mining Coal near the surface of ground Bulldozers “strip” the soil and rock above the coal Most coal in P.A. is extracted using strip mining Two shafts, or large holes are dug into the ground About 400 – 600 ft. deep Large machines used to drill and scoop out the coal They send it up to the surface through a shaft

Coal Mining in Pennsylvania Strip mining Underground mining

Centralia, P.A Centralia was a borough in Columbia County that was known for coal mining. In 1981 the population was over 1,000 By 2007, the population was only 7

Centralia, Columbia County, P.A

Centralia, P.A Centralia used an abandoned mine pit as their landfill. They burned their garbage there. In 1962, the burning garbage ignited exposed coal, and a fire has been burning ever since.

Centralia, P.A.

Centralia, P.A. In 1984, the government offered residents money to relocate to another place. In 1992, most of the remaining buildings were demolished

Centralia, P.A.

Centralia, P.A.

Centralia, P.A.

Centralia, P.A.

Oil The world’s first oil well was drilled in Titusville, P.A.

Natural Gas Natural Gas: Clear, odorless gas used as a source of heat No smoke No ashes Found mostly in Western, P.A.