The Geography of the The Geography of the United StatesUnited States

The United States is a large country, The United States is a large country, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. It borders Canada in the Pacific Ocean. It borders Canada in the

north and Mexico in the south. Geographers north and Mexico in the south. Geographers have divided it into five main physical have divided it into five main physical

regions.regions.

5 Physical Regions5 Physical Regions

•Atlantic Coastal PlainAtlantic Coastal Plain

•Appalachian MountainsAppalachian Mountains

•Central LowlandsCentral Lowlands

•Great PlainsGreat Plains

•Western Mountains and Western Mountains and BasinsBasins

Atlantic Coastal PlainAtlantic Coastal Plain• This large fertile plain runs along the This large fertile plain runs along the

Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. It extends into part of Texas. It extends into part of Texas.

Appalachian MountainsAppalachian Mountains

• These tree covered mountains These tree covered mountains along the eastern United States along the eastern United States run several hundred miles inland run several hundred miles inland

– from New England in the – from New England in the northeast to Alabama in the northeast to Alabama in the

south.south.

http://www.promotega.org/uga07010/html/appalachian_plateau.html

Central LowlandsCentral Lowlands• These are flat, fertile grasslands used These are flat, fertile grasslands used

for farming. They produce vast for farming. They produce vast amounts of food crops.amounts of food crops.

Great PlainsGreat Plains• This is an area of dry and hilly farms This is an area of dry and hilly farms

and grasslands, west of the Mississippi and grasslands, west of the Mississippi River. The Great Plains stretch across River. The Great Plains stretch across the middle of the country and reach the middle of the country and reach northward into Canada.northward into Canada.

Western Mountains and Western Mountains and BasinsBasins

• The Western United States has The Western United States has mountainous areas such as the mountainous areas such as the Rocky Mountains, the Cascades, and Rocky Mountains, the Cascades, and the Sierra Nevada, separated by the Sierra Nevada, separated by deserts, valleys, and dry basins.deserts, valleys, and dry basins.

What are the five main What are the five main physical regions?physical regions?

A___________C__________P_________A___________C__________P_________

A______________M_______________A______________M_______________

C______________L_______________C______________L_______________

G______________P_______________G______________P_______________

W_____________M___________B________W_____________M___________B________

Aim: We are going to review Aim: We are going to review the geography of the United the geography of the United States and learn about the States and learn about the geography of New York.geography of New York.

Geography of New YorkGeography of New YorkSize and LocationSize and Location

• New York is located in the Northeast New York is located in the Northeast region of the United States.region of the United States.

• Shaped like a triangle with over 54,000 Shaped like a triangle with over 54,000 square miles in area.square miles in area.

• New York is the only state that touches New York is the only state that touches both the Atlantic Ocean and a Great Lake.both the Atlantic Ocean and a Great Lake.

• Because of its location, harbor and Because of its location, harbor and waterways, New York is ideally situated for waterways, New York is ideally situated for trade.trade.

Size and Location of New Size and Location of New YorkYork

• located in the Northeast regionlocated in the Northeast region

• touches both the Atlantic Ocean and touches both the Atlantic Ocean and a Great Lakea Great Lake

• New York is great for trade because New York is great for trade because it has a lot of waterways and harborsit has a lot of waterways and harbors

• The six Finger Lakes are found in the The six Finger Lakes are found in the western part of the state.western part of the state.

• The Hudson River starts in the The Hudson River starts in the Adirondacks and flows south into the Adirondacks and flows south into the Atlantic Ocean.Atlantic Ocean.

• The Mohawk River flows east into the The Mohawk River flows east into the Hudson River. Niagara Falls, near Buffalo, Hudson River. Niagara Falls, near Buffalo, is one of the worlds most spectacular is one of the worlds most spectacular waterfallswaterfalls..

Geography of New YorkGeography of New YorkBodies of WaterBodies of Water

Bodies of Water in New YorkBodies of Water in New York

• Six Finger Lakes, found in the western part Six Finger Lakes, found in the western part of the stateof the state

• The Hudson River starts in the North and The Hudson River starts in the North and flows south into the Atlantic Ocean.flows south into the Atlantic Ocean.

• The Mohawk River flows east into the The Mohawk River flows east into the Hudson River, joins and flows into Atlantic Hudson River, joins and flows into Atlantic Ocean Ocean

• Niagara Falls, near Buffalo, is one of the Niagara Falls, near Buffalo, is one of the worlds most spectacular worlds most spectacular waterfallswaterfalls..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Fingerlakesmap.png

• Climate refers to an areas weather Climate refers to an areas weather conditions over a long period.conditions over a long period.

• New York’s climate differs from region New York’s climate differs from region to region.to region.

• Most of upstate New York has cold Most of upstate New York has cold winters.winters.

• The “snow belt” – the area around The “snow belt” – the area around Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse usually receives more than 100 inches usually receives more than 100 inches of snowfall in a single year. of snowfall in a single year.

• The southeast—New York City and The southeast—New York City and Long Island—has milder winters with Long Island—has milder winters with hot and humid summers.hot and humid summers.

Geography of New YorkGeography of New YorkClimateClimate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_effect_snow

New York is often divided into New York is often divided into seven (7) distinct regionsseven (7) distinct regions

• St. Lawrence LowlandsSt. Lawrence Lowlands• Adirondack MountainsAdirondack Mountains• Great Lakes PlainGreat Lakes Plain• Appalachian PlateauAppalachian Plateau• Hudson and Mohawk ValleysHudson and Mohawk Valleys• New England UplandNew England Upland• Atlantic Coastal PlainAtlantic Coastal Plain

Geography of New YorkGeography of New YorkPrincipal RegionsPrincipal Regions

St. Lawrence LowlandsSt. Lawrence Lowlands

• This region, to the northeast, This region, to the northeast, consists of narrow, flat plains consists of narrow, flat plains extending from the St. Lawrence extending from the St. Lawrence River to Lake Champlain.River to Lake Champlain.

• The region is know for its dairy The region is know for its dairy products and fruit orchids.products and fruit orchids.

• The largest city is PlattsburghThe largest city is Plattsburgh

Adirondack MountainsAdirondack Mountains

• New York’s Highest MountainsNew York’s Highest Mountains• Located South of the St. Lawrence Located South of the St. Lawrence

RiverRiver• Poor soil=unsuitable farmingPoor soil=unsuitable farming• Lake Placid-Winter Olympics has been Lake Placid-Winter Olympics has been

held there.held there.• Lake George and Ausable Chasm are Lake George and Ausable Chasm are

popular tourist destinations.popular tourist destinations.• Fort Ticonderoga, was built by the Fort Ticonderoga, was built by the

French in 1755 to control the area.French in 1755 to control the area.

Great Lakes PlainGreat Lakes Plain• Northwestern New YorkNorthwestern New York• Wide, flat plain extending eastward from Lake Wide, flat plain extending eastward from Lake

Erie and Ontario.Erie and Ontario.• Apples, cherries, and peaches grow in regions Apples, cherries, and peaches grow in regions

fertile soilfertile soil• Season is short because of the great deal of snowSeason is short because of the great deal of snow• Buffalo-state’s second largest city located on Buffalo-state’s second largest city located on

Lake ErieLake Erie• Rochester-know for optics and photographyRochester-know for optics and photography• Syracuse-developed around a salt springSyracuse-developed around a salt spring

Appalachian PlateauAppalachian Plateau

• Appalachian Plateau occupies most of Appalachian Plateau occupies most of the south western New York.the south western New York.

• Several land features- Catskill Several land features- Catskill Mountains, and Finger LakesMountains, and Finger Lakes

• The Corning Company and Cornell The Corning Company and Cornell University are located in this region. University are located in this region.

• Finger Lakes are know for their Finger Lakes are know for their vineyards.vineyards.

Hudson and Mohawk ValleysHudson and Mohawk Valleys

• Cut through the New York’s highland regions, Cut through the New York’s highland regions, providing one of the best passages through the providing one of the best passages through the Appalachians.Appalachians.

• Gave early New Yorkers access to the Great Lakes Gave early New Yorkers access to the Great Lakes and the Midwest.and the Midwest.

• The Erie Canal, New York Central Railroad, and the The Erie Canal, New York Central Railroad, and the New York Thruway were later built along this route.New York Thruway were later built along this route.

• Fertile Soil = fruit orchids and dairy farmsFertile Soil = fruit orchids and dairy farms• Waterfalls provide a source of water power, once Waterfalls provide a source of water power, once

used for factories and now used for hydroelectricity. used for factories and now used for hydroelectricity. • Albany-Capital of New York State is located in this Albany-Capital of New York State is located in this

regionregion

New England UplandNew England Upland

• Low mountains and rolling hills, Low mountains and rolling hills, running along New York’s eastern running along New York’s eastern border of New England.border of New England.

Atlantic Coastal PlainAtlantic Coastal Plain

• Wide, flat plain running along the east coast of the Wide, flat plain running along the east coast of the United States. It includes, New York and Long United States. It includes, New York and Long Island. Island.

• Long Island extends 120 miles out into the Atlantic Long Island extends 120 miles out into the Atlantic Ocean. Shaped like a giant fishOcean. Shaped like a giant fish

• Nassau and Suffolk countiesNassau and Suffolk counties• New York City-largest cityNew York City-largest city• Five boroughs- Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Five boroughs- Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan,

Queens, Staten IslandQueens, Staten Island• Manhattan-center of life; theatres, universities, Manhattan-center of life; theatres, universities,

museums.museums.• Many ethnic communities; China Town, Little Italy, Many ethnic communities; China Town, Little Italy,

HarlemHarlem

• Wide variety of natural resourcesWide variety of natural resources• Most valuable=forests (cover almost half Most valuable=forests (cover almost half

the state)the state)• Fertile Soil- apples, grapes, and Fertile Soil- apples, grapes, and

vegetables, and raise dairy cattle, poultry, vegetables, and raise dairy cattle, poultry, hogs and sheep.hogs and sheep.

• New York’s rivers, lakes and streams = New York’s rivers, lakes and streams = resources for transportation, power for resources for transportation, power for hydroelectricity, and fishhydroelectricity, and fish

• Mineral Deposits, including sand, gravel, Mineral Deposits, including sand, gravel, zinc, gypsum, salt, and iron ore.zinc, gypsum, salt, and iron ore.

Geography of New YorkGeography of New YorkNatural ResourcesNatural Resources