US Geography Basics Third 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.

Regions & Time Zones of the U. S.

Topography of the US

The Contour of the US

Topography of the Northeast Mountainous and Coastal Plains Topography of the Northeast Mountainous and Coastal Plains

New York, New York!

Erie Canal

Boston: The Hotbed of Revolution

Philadelphia: The Birth of Liberty

A New England Fall Kancamagus Highway, Maine Covered Bridge over the Connecticut River The back roads of Vermont

North-South Divide: The Mason-Dixon Line Charles Mason & Jeremiah Dixon:

Topography of the Southeast Coastal Plains & Mountains Topography of the Southeast Coastal Plains & Mountains

Charleston, SC: The South’s First Port

Appalachian Mountains

New Orleans, LA: The Big Easy

Florida

Topography of the Midwest Primarily flat plains known as Great Plains Topography of the Midwest Primarily flat plains known as Great Plains

ChicagoChicago

St. Louis Gateway to the West

The Great Plains America’s Bread Basket The Great Plains America’s Bread Basket

Topography of the West Very Mountainous, Deserts in the South, and coastal plains along the Pacific Topography of the West Very Mountainous, Deserts in the South, and coastal plains along the Pacific

Los Angeles: The City of Angels?

Rocky Mountains

Hollywood: City of Lost Dreams

Bodies of Water Chesapeake Bay Chesapeake Bay Great Salt Lake Lake Okeechobee

RiversRivers Hudson R. Potomac R. Mississippi R. Ohio R. Missouri R. Arkansas R. Colorado R. Columbia R. Yukon R. Rio Grande R. St. Lawrence R.

The Mississippi River: America’s Great River Road The “Big Muddy”. 2,350 miles. Draining all or part of 31 states & 2 Canadian provinces. Covers 40% of the U. S.

Mississippi Riverboat

Great Salt Lake 2000 square miles. 10’ – 28’ deep. 6 times saltier than the oceans.

Lake Okeechobee, FL

The Gulf of Mexico

Mountains & Plateaus Appalachian Mts. Rocky Mts. Cascade Mts. Sierra Nevada Mts. Alaskan Range ^ Mt. Whitney ^ Mt. McKinley ^ Pike’s Peak Adirondack Mts.

The Contour of the US

Grand Canyon

PlainsPlains Central Plains Atlantic Coastal Plains Gulf Coastal Plains Great Basin

The Great Plains

DesertsDeserts Mohave Desert Death Valley

Mohave Desert

Death Valley, CA 3.3 million acres. 95% wilderness.

Completed Map Lake Okeechobee Chesapeake Bay Chesapeake Bay Appalachian Mts. Rocky Mts. Cascade Mts. Sierra Nevada Mts. Alaskan Range ^ Mt. Whitney ^ Mt. McKinley ^ Pike’s Peak Adirondack Mts. Central Plains Atlantic Coastal Plains Gulf Coastal Plains Great Basin Cumberland Plateau Hudson R. Potomac R. Mississippi R. Ohio R. Missouri R. Arkansas R. Colorado R. Columbia R. Yukon R. Rio Grande R. St. Lawrence R. Great Salt Lake Mohave Desert Death Valley

303,200,072303,200,072 One birth every 8 seconds. One death every 13 seconds. One international migrant (net) every 22 seconds. Net gain of one person every 10 seconds. U. S. Population as of October 24, 2007

Linguistic Map

National Parks

US National Parks (1) Glacier National Park, MT Grand Teton National Park, WY 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