Geography of the United StatesGeography of the United States

•SPI Covered 7.3.10

•I CAN identify the characteristics that define a region geographically.

Geography of the United StatesGeography of the United States• The United States is The United States is

the 4the 4thth Largest Largest country in the world.country in the world.

• There are 50 states, There are 50 states, 48 are contiguous, 48 are contiguous, that means they that means they touch another state.touch another state.

• The U.S. has 5 The U.S. has 5 physical regions.physical regions.

• A coral reef is a low A coral reef is a low lying island formed lying island formed from the skeletons from the skeletons of small sea of small sea animals.animals.

Geography of the United StatesGeography of the United States• The 1The 1stst immigrants came immigrants came

from Asia across the from Asia across the Bearing Strait.Bearing Strait.

• The U.S. has a Republic The U.S. has a Republic form of government, form of government, that is where we elect that is where we elect our officials.our officials.

• A sudden political A sudden political change is called a change is called a “Revolution”.“Revolution”.

• An “ethnic group” is a An “ethnic group” is a group of people that group of people that share a common culture, share a common culture, language, and history.language, and history.

Geographic Regions of the U.S.Geographic Regions of the U.S.

• The Coastal Plains The Coastal Plains run along the run along the Atlantic Coast and Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. the Gulf of Mexico. They run from They run from Maine to Texas are Maine to Texas are low in elevation.low in elevation.

Geographic Regions of the U.S.Geographic Regions of the U.S.• The Appalachian The Appalachian

Mountains are the 2Mountains are the 2ndnd longest and the longest and the oldest mountains in oldest mountains in the U.S.the U.S.

• The Great Lakes are The Great Lakes are the largest group of the largest group of freshwater lakes in freshwater lakes in the world.the world.

• The Great Lakes and The Great Lakes and the Mississippi River the Mississippi River are major waterways are major waterways in the U.S. in the U.S.

Geographic Regions of the U.S.Geographic Regions of the U.S.

•The Interior The Interior Plains have thick Plains have thick forests, broad forests, broad river valleys and river valleys and rolling farm land.rolling farm land.

•The longest river The longest river in the U.S. is the in the U.S. is the Mississippi River. Mississippi River.

Geographic Regions of the U.S.Geographic Regions of the U.S.

•The Rocky The Rocky Mountains are Mountains are the largest the largest mountain mountain range in the range in the U.S. and form U.S. and form the Continental the Continental Divide. Divide.

Geographic Regions of the U.S.Geographic Regions of the U.S.

•Alaska and Alaska and Hawaii are part Hawaii are part of the Pacific of the Pacific Region.Region.

•Alaska is the Alaska is the only state with only state with a sub arctic a sub arctic climate.climate.

Economic Regions of the U.S.Economic Regions of the U.S.

• The Northeast region The Northeast region of the U.S. is the of the U.S. is the oldest and earliest oldest and earliest center of center of manufacturing.manufacturing.

• The Northeast has The Northeast has deep water ports for deep water ports for shipping shipping manufactured manufactured goods.goods.

• A “Megalopolis” is an A “Megalopolis” is an urban area that urban area that makes a super city. makes a super city. New York, Boston, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Baltimore and Washington D.C.Washington D.C.

Economic Regions of the U.S.Economic Regions of the U.S.

• The South has a very The South has a very large tourist trade with large tourist trade with places such as Sea World places such as Sea World and Disney World.and Disney World.

• The south also relies on The south also relies on agriculture and it’s agriculture and it’s products.products.

• Atlanta and Dallas are Atlanta and Dallas are major business centers.major business centers.

• The south and southwest The south and southwest are the fastest growing are the fastest growing regions in the U. S. regions in the U. S.

Economic Regions of the U.S.Economic Regions of the U.S.

•The Midwest is The Midwest is America’s farm America’s farm belt with it’s flat belt with it’s flat land and rich land and rich fertile soil.fertile soil.

•The Great Lakes The Great Lakes and the Mississippi and the Mississippi River are major River are major waterways in the waterways in the Midwest.Midwest.

Economic Regions of the U.S.Economic Regions of the U.S.

•The Interior West The Interior West is famous for it’s is famous for it’s ranching and it is ranching and it is rich in mineral and rich in mineral and energy resources.energy resources.

•One of the main One of the main economic economic activities in the activities in the Interior West is Interior West is ranching.ranching.

Economic Regions of the U.S.Economic Regions of the U.S.

• The Pacific region The Pacific region produces fruit, produces fruit, vegetables, vegetables, sugarcane, coffee and sugarcane, coffee and rice.rice.

• The best farmland in The best farmland in the Pacific region is in the Pacific region is in Central California.Central California.

• Dry farming is farming Dry farming is farming land so that it holds land so that it holds water.water.

• Smog is pollution Smog is pollution mixed with rain or mixed with rain or snow.snow.