The Geography of the United States
Use maps to identify the size and location of the United States.
US Geography Basics Fourth largest country in the world. Half the size of Russia. One third the size of Africa. Half the size of South America. 2 ½ times the size of Western Europe.
Identify geographic regions (Northeast, Southwest, etc) and their political distinctions.
Regions & Time Zones of the U. S.
2012 Presidential Election Results
Topography
Topography of the US
The Great Plains
Bodies of Water Great Salt Lake Chesapeake Bay Lake Okeechobee
Rivers St. Lawrence R. Columbia R. Missouri R. Hudson R. Potomac R. Mississippi R. Ohio R. Colorado R. Arkansas R. Rio Grande R. Yukon R.
The Mississippi: America’s Great River Road 2,350 miles. Draining all or part of 31 states & 2 Canadian provinces. Covers 40% of the U. S.
Great Salt Lake 2000 square miles. 10’ – 28’ deep. 6 times saltier than the oceans.
The Gulf of Mexico
Mountains & Plateaus Adirondack Mts. Cascade Mts. Rocky Mts. Sierra Nevada Mts. ^ Mt. Whitney Appalachian Mts. ^ Pike’s Peak ^ Mt. McKinley Alaskan Range
The Continental Divide
Grand Canyon
Atlantic Coastal Plains Great Basin Central Plains Atlantic Coastal Plains Gulf Coastal Plains
The Great Plains
Plateaus Cumberland Plateau
Cumberland Plateau & ‘Gap’ AL, KY, TN, VA, WV 24,640 sq. mi. Natural passage [Gap] through the Cumberland Mts.
Deserts Death Valley Mohave Desert
Mohave Desert – 3,000’
Death Valley, CA 3.3 million acres. 95% wilderness.
Atlantic Coastal Plains Completed Map St. Lawrence R. Columbia R. Adirondack Mts. Cascade Mts. Missouri R. Hudson R. Rocky Mts. Great Basin Potomac R. Great Salt Lake Cumberland Plateau Mississippi R. Chesapeake Bay Central Plains Sierra Nevada Mts. ^ Mt. Whitney Appalachian Mts. Ohio R. Colorado R. ^ Pike’s Peak Death Valley Arkansas R. Atlantic Coastal Plains Mohave Desert Gulf Coastal Plains Lake Okeechobee Rio Grande R. Yukon R. ^ Mt. McKinley Alaskan Range
Climate
Vegetation
The American Landscape
US Wetlands
Demographics
317,297,938 U. S. Population as of 2014 One birth every 8 seconds. One death every 12 seconds. One international migrant (net) every 40 seconds. Net gain of one person every 16 seconds.
Racial Changes: Caucasians (1990-2000)
Racial Changes: African-Americans (1990-2000)
Racial Changes: Asians (1990-2000)
Racial Changes: Native-Americans (1990-2000)
Linguistic Map
Geographic Problems
Seismography Data: 1977-1997 Earthquakes!
Tornadoes Per Year: 1950-1997
Hurricane Camille: The Storm of the Century August 17, 1969 Category 5 Killed 412 people Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana
Andrew: The Most Expensive Hurricane August 24, 1992 Category 5 Killed 65 people Cost $30,000,000,000
The Geographic Diversity of America!
National Parks
US National Parks (1) Grand Teton National Park, WY Glacier National Park, MT Mt. Rushmore National Park, SD
US National Parks (2) Everglades National Park, FL Yellowstone National Park, MT Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
US National Parks (3) Yosemite National Park, CA Acadia National Park, ME Natural Bridges National Park, UT