30 U.S. Physical Features Geography
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Transcript of 30 U.S. Physical Features Geography
Pacific Ocean
• Largest and deepest ocean in the world.
• Named by Ferdinand Magellan.
• Means “tranquil” in Spanish.
Atlantic Ocean
• 2nd largest ocean in world
• Varies from cold rocky coasts of New England to warm sandy beaches of Florida
Gulf of Mexico
• Oil deposits have been found in the continental shelf
• Offshore oil wells are along the shore of the gulf
Great Lakes
• Group of 5 freshwater lakes.
• Make up largest body of freshwater in world
• Connected to St. Lawrence River—can navigate all the way to Atlantic Ocean
• Formed by melting glaciers.
Great Salt Lake
• Largest body of salt water in N. America
• Salt and minerals are mined in region around Salt Lake
• Salt Lake City founded on shores by Bringham Young. Mormons trying to escape persecution
Chesapeake Bay
• 200 mile long inlet to the Atlantic Ocean
• Calm waters protect ships from Atlantic
• Popular area for settlement—1st permanent settlement in the United States
• Capt. John Smith explored.
Chesapeake Bay
• 200 mile long inlet to the Atlantic Ocean
• Calm waters protect ships from Atlantic
• Popular area for settlement—1st permanent settlement in the United States
• Capt. John Smith explored.
San Francisco Bay
• 50 miles long, 3-13 miles wide; mouth to Pacific Ocean, known as Golden Gate due to Gold Rush prospectors coming to SF
• Discovered by Sir Francis Drake in 1579
Hudson River
• New York City at mouth of Hudson
• Erie Canal links Hudson to Great Lakes
• Benedict Arnold betrays Americans—tries to give West Point to British—would have cut off New England colonies
Mississippi River
• Principal water route in central U.S.
• Major shipping route—floating highway
Ohio River
• Natural boundary.• Highly visible
landmark—made fewer boundary disputes
• Settlement after Revolution
• Boundary for slavery—underground railroad
Missouri River• 2,265 miles long
flows across Great Plains
• “Big Muddy”• Lewis & Clark follow
Missouri River on their journey across N. America to Pacific Ocean
Colorado River
• Flows from Rocky Mtns southwest through CO, UT, AZ, NV and CA before entering Mexico emptying into Gulf of CA
• 1000 miles of canyons
• Fights over H2O rights
Colorado River
• Hydro-Electric Power—Hoover Dam--Las Vegas
Rio Grande River
Rio Grande
• Many small border towns called paired towns—Mexico and U.S.
• Claimed by U.S. as proper border in 1840’s. Caused War with Mexico 1846-1848.
• War gave U.S. most of what is now southwestern United States and California
St. Lawrence River
St. Lawrence River
• One of the most important rivers in N. America
• Important source of hydroelectric power• Canals along the river make navigation
easy. Can travel all the way from Atlantic Ocean to Duluth, MN
• Area once controlled by French. Canadian Areas retain French customs and lang.
Columbia River
Columbia River
• 1210 miles long. Flows from Canada through Wash. & Oregon.
• One of the great drainage basins of N. America. Large amounts of silt & sediment created shallow areas.
• Explored by Lewis & Clark. Focus of settlement and “end of the line” for the Oregon Trail.
Great Plains
Great Plains
• Extensive grassland region from northern Canada to Texas between Rocky Mtns. And Mississippi River
• Once a vast inland sea—sediments from ancient sea make soil rich for farming.
• “America’s Breadbasket”
• Expansion of wheat during WWI led to Dust Bowl during Great Depression
Great Basin
Great Basin
• Lowland desert region in western U.S. bordered by Sierra Nevada range and Rocky Mountains.
• Dominated by short, steep mountains amidst gradual depressions in the earth called basins.
• Rare rainfall—dry lakes and riverbeds. Rainfall flows fast to low areas—flash floods.
Cape Cod
Cape Cod
• Created by glacier around 17,000 years ago.
• Fishhook or elf’s shoe shape• Canal allows boats from Boston to cut
through to New York• 1620-first Pilgrims landed at Plymouth and
established one of the first permanent European settlements in N. America--Mayflower
Gulf Coastal Plain
Gulf Coastal Plain
• Extends from Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, along Texas coast to western Florida
• Low, sandy & marshy shoreline. Marshy areas known as bayous. Land is prone to flooding. Cajuns
• Battle of New Orleans—Andrew Jackson defeated British
Atlantic Coastal Plain
Atlantic Coastal Plain
• Run from Nova Scotia to Florida
• Generally flat lowlands-prone to flooding
• Areas of good farmland
• Barrier Islands along Carolina coast provide smooth water for ships and harbors
Central Valley
Central Valley
• Extends 450 miles through California. 50 miles wide between Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges
• Rich soil & a perfect climate for growing agricultural products. Largest concentration of fruit farms & vineyards in the U.S.
• Uninhabited until 1848—gold in Sierra
Sierra Nevada
Sierra Nevada
• 400 miles long.
• Largest peak is Mt. Whitney-14,494 ft elev.
• Melting snowpack is a major source of water for rivers, lakes & streams in California
• Spectacular scenery—Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and other St. & Nat’l. Parks are sources of recreation for millions of visitors
Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
• Extend in a broad belt 1600 miles from St. Lawrence River to Gulf Coastal Plain in Alabama
• Most of the mountains are below the “timberline”
• Soil at base good for farming
• Very few passes—created a natural barrier to early westward expansion
Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
• Extend more than 3000 miles from central New Mexico to NW Alaska
• Many peaks exceed the timberline making settlement and transportation virtually impossible
• Form the Continental Divide: separates rivers flowing to Atlantic & Arctic Oceans from those draining to the Pacific
Mount McKinley
Mt. McKinley
• Elevation is 20,320 feet high. Highest point in North America.
• Permanent snowfields cover more than half the mountain and are a source of numerous glaciers. Terrain is rough and hazardous.
• American explorer Hudson Stuck was 1st to successfully scale Mt. McKinley in 1913
Mount Whitney
Mt. Whitney
• 2nd highest peak in N. America 14,494’ elevation
• Elevation of area around Mt. Whitney make transportation & settlement impossible. Mountain peaks play crucial role in surrounding areas: water from snow pack make valleys near base good for agriculture. Act as windbreak for farmlands
Cascade Range
Cascade Range
• 700 miles long, stretch from British Columbia, Canada to northern California
• Highest peaks are volcano cones—incl. Mt. St. Helens
• Highest mountain is Mt. Rainier at 14,440’
• Great logging area, most mountains are below timberline
Coast Range
Coast Range
• Runs along Pacific Coast from Alaska to Baja; range from 2,000’ to 20,000’
• Rocky coasts, sheer cliffs; settlement limited to few areas where bays or small plains have been created. (San Diego, Los Angeles, SF, and Seattle)
• Faulting & folding of Coast Range due to friction from tectonic plates; earthquakes
Brooks Range
Brooks Range
• Natural barrier between Arctic Ocean coastal plain & Yukon River basin in s. Alaska
• Vast reserves of oil. Trans-Alaskan pipeline to Valdez
Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa
• Volcanic forces created Hawaiian Islands
• Island of Hawaii continues to grow each year
Mauna Loa Lava Flow