1. The Geography
of the
United States

2. 5/31/12 Aim: What important geographical features does the United States have? How do they all contribute to making this country as important as it is? Objective: Students will identify the major geographical features of the United States. Do Now/: What is the section of the country where we live known as? Close: Match the cities to their region. Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, New York, Boston, Las Vegas, Charleston, Oklahoma City, Portland, Kansas City. What is each region known for?

3. 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.

4. Regions & Time Zones of the U. S.

5. Topography

6. Topography of the US. Where are 80% of the nation’s mountains located?

7. Topography of the Northeast.
What characteristics do you see regarding the Northeast?
Does it have mostly high or flat land?
Do you see oceans, rivers, etc?
What makes the Northeast perfect for farming and trading?

8. New York’s Canals…
Based on the map on the left, what do you notice about NY State?
Why was NY established as a perfect center for trade?

9. Erie Canal

10. North-South Divide: The Mason-Dixon Line

11. Topography of the Southeast
When you look at this map, what do you see?
How is it alike in comparison to the map of the Northeast?
Is it mostly flat? What is mostly flat land good for?

12. Charleston, SC: The South’s First Port

13. Topography of the Midwest
When you look at this map of the Midwest, what do you see?
Would this be a good place to farm? To trade?
What is difference about this map and the map of the Northeast & the map of the Southeast?

14. The Great Plains

15. Topography of the West. When you look at this map, what do you see?
How is it different than the other maps we have looked at?
What is the West’s location good for?

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

18. 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.

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

20. Mississippi Riverboat

21. The Gulf of Mexico

23. Mountains & Plateaus. Why do mountains pose problems for farming
Mountains & Plateaus. Why do mountains pose problems for farming? For trade & travel?
Adirondack Mts.
Cascade Mts.
Rocky Mts.
Sierra Nevada Mts.
^ Mt. Whitney
Appalachian Mts.
^ Pike’s Peak
^ Mt. McKinley
Alaskan Range

25. Atlantic Coastal Plains
Plains. Where can plains be found throughout the country? What are plains perfect for?
Great Basin
Central Plains
Atlantic Coastal Plains
Gulf Coastal Plains

26. The Great Plains

27. Deserts. Where are the nation’s deserts found?
Death Valley
Mohave Desert

28. Mohave Desert

29. 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

31. Climate

32. What type of climate is in the Northeast?
Southeast?
Midwest?
West Coast?
Southwest?

33. Where does it rain the most in the country?
What is this used for?
Where does it rain the least and why?