Rocks Rock!Rocks Rock!

Learn about some of the most Learn about some of the most famous rocks in the United States.famous rocks in the United States.

FAMOUS MOUNTAINSFAMOUS MOUNTAINS

The Appalachian MountainsThe Appalachian Mountains

The Appalachian Mountains…The Appalachian Mountains…

• …run through 14 states from Maine in the north to Georgia in the south (but not Ohio).

• The highest peak is Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina. It is 6,684 feet high. That’s more than a mile!

The Appalachian MountainsThe Appalachian Mountains

• …contain 2 major habitats: river and forest.

• …are made up mostly of layers of shale, sandstone and limestone.

The The RockRocky Mountainsy Mountains

The The RockRocky Mountains…y Mountains…

• …form the continental divide that separates North America into 2 parts.

• …have peaks over 14,000 feet high. That’s almost 3 miles!

The The RockRocky Mountains…y Mountains…

• …have 3 major habitats: lake, forest and tundra

• …are made up mostly of layers of shale, sandstone and limestone.

Think about it…Think about it…

• The Appalachian Mountains are older than the Rocky Mountains. Any idea why?

A FAMOUS CANYONA FAMOUS CANYON(It’s really, really big!)(It’s really, really big!)

The Grand CanyonThe Grand Canyon

A word about the word GRANDA word about the word GRAND

• GRAND appears in more languages than just English.

• In French, Spanish and Italian, GRAND means BIG.

The Grand Canyon…The Grand Canyon…

• …is located in northwestern Arizona.

• …is 277 miles long and 7 miles wide.

• …has walls over a mile high.

• …contains 3 different habitats: river, desert and forest.

• …is made up mostly of layers of shale, sandstone and limestone.

How did the Grand Canyon How did the Grand Canyon

get so get so grandgrand??

• EROSION! – wearing away slowly over time

• The Colorado River, at the bottom of the Canyon, has carved the canyon over the past 5 to 6 million years.

How do we know the age of the How do we know the age of the Grand Canyon?Grand Canyon?

• Geologists have studied the different layers of rock that make up the canyon walls.

• Geologists have found fossils between the layers that date back millions of years.

FAMOUS FAMOUS ROCK MONUMENTSROCK MONUMENTS

Mt. RushmoreMt. Rushmore

Do you recognize these men?Do you recognize these men?

GEORGE WASHINGTON

THOMAS JEFFERSON

THEODORE ROOSEVELT

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Mt. Rushmore…Mt. Rushmore…

• …is located in the southwestern part of South Dakota.

• …is 5,700 feet tall (more than a mile).

• …is made of granite, a very hard rock.

Carving Mt. RushmoreCarving Mt. Rushmore

• It took 14 years, many carvers and a lot of dynamite to carve the faces into Mt. Rushmore.

• Each face is about 60 feet tall!

• George Washington’s nose alone is 20 feet tall!

• Click here to learn more.

Speaking of Speaking of George Washington…George Washington…

The Washington MonumentThe Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is in our The Washington Monument is in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.

The Washington Monument is…The Washington Monument is…

• …555 feet tall.

• …made of marble and granite.– Marble is very hard and very expensive.

• ...opened in 1888.

• …very skinny. There are 896 steps to the top but only one elevator.

Physical or Human Features?Physical or Human Features?

Physical Human

Appalachian Mountains

Rocky Mountains

Grand Canyon

Mt. Rushmore

Washington Monument

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