Bodies of Water Bodies of Water in the United in the United StatesStates

Why are waterways Why are waterways important to United States important to United States history?history?

Settlement

Transportation

Trade

OceansOceans

Atlantic and PacificAtlantic and Pacific

•Mississippi

•Missouri

•Ohio

•Columbia

Rivers

•Colorado

•Rio Grande

•St. Lawrence

LakesLakesThe Great LakesThe Great Lakes

Sho Me–Superior, Huron, Ontario, Michigan, and ErieSho Me–Superior, Huron, Ontario, Michigan, and ErieHOMES-Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior

GulfGulf

Gulf of MexicoGulf 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 LakesGreat Lakes

Inland Port cities Inland Port cities grew along the grew along the Great LakesGreat 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 Gulf of Mexico provided the Spanish and French the Spanish and French with with exploration routes to Mexico and exploration routes to Mexico and other parts of the world.other parts of the world.

St. LawrenceSt. Lawrence

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