Geography of Pennsylvania

Size of Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania spans 45,333 square miles• Is considered to be a small state

Pennsylvania is 302 miles from east to wet

It is 158 miles from

north to south

Regions of the United States

North Eastern United States Mid- Atlantic States

Pennsylvania’s Neighbors Lake Erie

New York

New

Jersey

Maryland

WestVirginia

Ohi

o

The eastern board is The Delaware river

Del

awar

e

This is called the Panhandle of West Virginia….Notice how it looks like the handle of a pan

Pennsylvania’s Climate

• PA has a Humid Continental Climate - four seasons

• Enough rainfall for farming

• Our weather comes the west, or the interior part of the United States and Canada

Pennsylvania’s Climate

• The southeast PA gets the most rainfall, and the warmest temperatures

• The northwest has the coolest temperature

• The record high temperature was 111F in 1936

• Record low temperature was -42F in 1904

Thunderstorm in Philadelphia

Ice on Lake Erie

Pennsylvania’s weather extreme

Hurricanes/tropical storms and Floods Tornado in southwestern PA

Blizzards

Lake Erie Plain

Atlantic Coastal Plain • The land is Flat

(highest point is only 26 feet above sea level)

• Was once under ocean water

• Soil is very rich, but cannot be used for farming because this area is covered by a urban area

Atlantic Coastal Plain – Industry

The largest city in Pennsylvania is Philadelphia Oil refineries take curd oil, and Turn the oil into usable substances

Philadelphia is a deep waterPort. This is important to trade, and allowed Philadelphia to develop a ship building Industry.

Atlantic Coastal Plain- Historical Impact Independence Hall – location whereWashington was appointed CommanderAnd Chief of Continental Army, the Declaration of Independence was adopted, The US flag was designed, and US Constitution was drafted

Ben Franklin – was an author, Scientist, politician, and an Important leader in America’s fight for Independence.

He also started the first library, Hospital, and fire department in America.

The Liberty Bell- weighing over2,000 lbs, this bell was a symbolto celebrate the 50th anniversaryof William Penn’s Charter.

It was hidden during the Revolutionary War to prevent it from being melted Down to make cannons.

The crack in bell occurred on February 26, 1846 when it rang to celebrate Washington’s Birthday

Atlantic Coastal Plain – Social Impact

The Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich – thinly sliced steak, onions, and cheese (cheese whiz)

The to most famous Cheese Steak Sandwich in Philly are located across the street from eachother on an “x” shaped intersection in South Philly. Perfect location for the competition

Philadelphia is also home to four major sport teams

The Piedmont •Located in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania

•This area has low rolling hills

•The maximum elevation is 600 feet

•The most fertile Soil in the United States

The Piedmont – Farming

Turkey farmsCorn

Apple Orchards

Tobacco Wheat

ChambersburgPeaches

Dairy Farms

The Piedmont – The Amish • The Amish are

descendents of German immigrants

• They still dress and live the same way they did 280 years ago

• They can use electricity in barns, but it must be produced by a Generator

The Piedmont - Industry

Due to the large amount of farms in this region, there are also many food processing facilities

Pennsylvania is known as the "Snack Food Capital of the World."

The Piedmont – Industry • Milton Hershey was a failed

businessman• Opened up a factory in PA and looked

for the right mixture of sugar, milk, and cocoa

• Milton soon discovered the recipe for milk chocolate and was able to mass produce it, making it affordable enough for everyone to enjoy

• Milton became very rich, but he gave back to the community. He even opened a school for orphans

Piedmont – Cities

York Allentown

Gettysburg

The Ridge and Valley • The Appalachian

Mountains are found in this region

• The tallest point in PA, Mt. Davis is located in this region

• This region is

characterized by tall ridges with wide valleys in-between

The Ridge and Valley Region

You can see ridges and deep valley

The Cumberland Valley, Lebanon Valley, and Lehigh Valley form what is called the Great Valley

Ridge and Valley Region • The Appalachian

Mountains go through PA

• It is an “old” mountain range and over time has been shrinking in size.

• Mt. Davis at 3,213 feet is

the highest point in PA. It is located in Somerset County

Ridge and Valley Region – Cities

Harrisburg - PA’s State Capital Scranton- home of Steamtown, National Historic Sight

Altoona’s horseshoe curve – a National Historic

Landmark

Ridge and Valley Region• This region was know for

anthracite coal mines

• Anthracite or hard coal, was form from heat the pressure in side the earth

• Anthracite burns cleaner than Bituminous coal, but is harder to mine

• Mining Anthracite was

very dangerous

Allegheny Plateau • Largest area – covers 60% of

the state

• Plateau is a raised area of land that is usually flat

• The Allegheny Plateau has been eroded by glaciers, streams, and rivers which has formed valleys and hills

• Soil is mostly clay not the best for farming

Allegheny Plateau – landforms

• fL

Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon Laurel Caverns Pocono Mountains

Allegheny National Forest • Early settlers logged the forest

in Northern PA

• The wood from the forest also were used to support the oil boom and railroad boom

• Between the 1890-1920 the forest was basically clear cut

• In the 1920’s efforts were put in place to save and restore the forest

Allegheny Plateau – Natural Resources

The Allegheny Plateau is full of wildlife which attracts tourist and hunters to the region

Allegheny Plateau – Natural Resources

Mining from coal to iron ore Natural gas drilling

Clay and sand found in the soil has been used to make glass products,

pottery, and bricks

Allegheny Plateau Cities

Johnstown after the historical Flood Oil City – where the first oil will

was used

Allegheny Plateau – Pittsburgh Pittsburgh is located where the Monongahela River meets the Allegheny River to formthe Ohio. This location caused Pittsburgh to become an industrial power house

The Geography of Pittsburghplayed an important role in thedevelopment of the city.

It was a key fort during the Frenchand Indian War. It is a connection to the Mississippi River

Pittsburgh was full of factories andwas very polluted from the burningOf coal.

Pittsburgh is also the Home to PPG industries.

Makers of Glass and Paints

Allegheny Plateau

Pittsburgh has now shifted from a manufacturing to a service economy. It is known for having major hospitals and sports teams

The Lake Erie Plain

• Pennsylvania access to the Great Lakes

• Important for trade and manufacturing

• The Lake effects the weather

• The land is flat and soil is sandy

The Lake Erie Plain

• Lake Erie is a natural harbor for ships

• It is also a deep water port

• The Battle of Lake Erie was a major victory for the United States in the War of 1812

The Lake Erie Plain

• The Sandy Soil and weather from the lake make it an excellent place for orchards and vineyards

Delaware River System

• Delaware River is the boarder between PA and New Jersey

• The Lehigh and the Schuylkill Rivers are tributaries

• It empties into the Delaware Bay

• Deep water port in Philadelphia

Susquehanna River system

• Flows through the center of the state

• Juniata and West Branch of the Susquehanna are the tributaries

• It is to shallow to be used for travel

• Flows into the Chesapeake Bay

Ohio River system • Is located on the western

part of the state

• The Allegheny river and Monongahela meet in in Pittsburgh to form the Ohio

• The Ohio flows into the Mississippi, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico

• Very important to the commerce of our state

The Ohio River System • The Allegheny flows from the

north

• The Youghiogheny flows north into the Monongahela (Mon)

• The Mon then flow North to Pittsburgh

• The Mon is the Eastern border of Washington County

Lakes, Wetlands, and Reservoirs • PA has over 2,000 lakes,

mostly in the Northern part of the state, made by glacial forces

• Wetland is a lowland area such as a swarm and marsh that contain a wide verity of plant and animal life

• Reservoirs were built for a drinking water supply

• Dams are built to control the flows of the rivers