Bodies of Water in the United States

Why are waterways important to United States history? Settlement Transportation Trade

Oceans Atlantic and Pacific Atlantic and Pacific

Mississippi Missouri Ohio Columbia Rivers Colorado Rio Grande St. Lawrence

Lakes The Great Lakes Sho Me–Superior, Huron, Ontario, Michigan, and Erie HOMES-Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior

Gulf Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mexico

The location of the United States, with its Atlantic and Pacific coasts, provide access to other areas of the world.

The Atlantic Ocean served as a highway for explorers.

River Descriptions The Ohio River was the “gateway to the west”.

Great Lakes Inland Port cities grew along the Great Lakes Inland Port cities grew along the Great Lakes

The Mississippi and Missouri River were used to transport farm and industrial products.

The Columbia River was explored by Lewis and Clark.

The Colorado River was explored by the Spanish.

The Rio Grande forms the border with Mexico.

The Pacific Ocean was an early exploration destination.

The Gulf of Mexico provided the French and Spanish exploration routes to Mexico and parts of America.

The Gulf of Mexico provided the Spanish and French with exploration routes to Mexico and other parts of the world. The Gulf of Mexico provided the Spanish and French with exploration routes to Mexico and other parts of the world.

St. Lawrence The St. Lawrence river forms the northeastern border with Canada and connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean The St. Lawrence river forms the northeastern border with Canada and connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean