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United States Geography
How River Systems and Land Forms affect our
lives
Water Features of the US1. Mississippi River (discovered by the French) Used as major highway north
and south. Named for the Native American tribe, the Mississippi’s.
2. Missouri River (Major east and west water way to the Great Northwest…traveled by Lewis and Clark).
3. Ohio River ( creates a fertile valley that both the French and English wanted… led to the “French and Indian War” between these two European countries.
4. Hudson River ( Hudson River Valley important to early colonist for looking for a way to the west).
5. Erie Canal (man made water system connecting the Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley to the New York and the Atlantic Ocean).
6. Gulf of Mexico ( Highway for Spanish and French exploration and transporting of gold to Spain from Mexico).
7. Atlantic Ocean ( brought many colonists from England, traders from France, and soldiers for fortune from Spain). Also brought new religious cultures, and devastating diseases to the Native Americans.
8. Pacific Ocean ( goal of many American following the “American Revolution). Wanted to expand the United States westward….Manifest Destiny.
Mississippi River• Most important
river system in the United States
• Flows from Minnesota to Gulf of Mexico – New Orleans
• Major water route for shipping and trade to interior of US
• Makes trade easier, faster, and cheaper
Take out your US Map
• You will now begin mapping in the water sources
• Use your map rules…label in print, write in a straight line from L to R, use black ink or pencil only.
• Use colors (map pencil only)• Take your time to be accurate
Map in the Mississippi1
Missouri River
Mississippi River
Missouri River
Missouri River• Called the Big Muddy• Heavy load of silt in the water • Parts of the Gulf of Mexico are muddy because the
Missouri flows into the Mississippi• Provides faster, cheaper ways to trade and move
goods and people
Map in the Missouri
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Ohio River
Ohio RiverPermanent and obvious boundary between states reducing land conflict in the area.
Ohio River Valley desirable as an ideal place to fish, farm, and trade
Source of conflict due to desirable land
Map in the Ohio
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http://www.epa.gov/msbasin/
Mississippi River
Hudson River
Hudson River
Hudson River
• Links New York to the Great Lakes • Now runs through the largest city in the
US!). • Provided a natural water route for the
timber and beaver (fur)rich areas of the Northeast.
• Used by natives, early Dutch, and English explorers and settlers
• Today: it is used as a MAJOR inexpensive trade and transportation route
Map in the Hudson
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Erie Canal• Man made waterway, • AKA Clinton’s Big Ditch • connected the important trade center of New York
City, with the developing farmlands west of the Appalachian Mountains.
• Allowed farmers to ship their goods, via the Great Lakes, to eastern markets quickly and cheaply.
• Created westward expansion by allowing settlers to move through the once impenetrable Appalachian Mountains.
Map in the Erie Canal
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Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico • Borders the southeast coast of the United States
• Large OIL deposits.
• Settlement in this area because of the natural harbors allowing easy trade and transportation
Map in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
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1Color in the area of the Gulf of Mexico and Label it
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Atlantic Ocean
Africa
Europe
South America
North America
Atlantic ocean
Atlantic Ocean• Second largest ocean
in the world and is• located east of the
United States. • It runs from the cold,
rocky coasts of New England (Maine to New Jersey)
•to the warm, sandy beaches of Georgia and Florida
Map in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic
Ocean
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1Color in the area of the Atlantic Ocean and label it
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Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean• Largest ocean in the world • Borders the west coast of the United
States from California to Washington and Oregon states.
• The Pacific coastline is mostly rocky with high, rough seas
Pacific Ocean
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Color in the area of the Pacific Ocean and label it
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Land Features of the US
• The Great Plains- Provides fertile lands for crops and livestock. • Appalachian Mountains – play an important role in early
development of the English Colonies, prevents movement westward. • Rocky Mountains- a natural barrier for settlers heading west to overcome.
Great PlainsThe Great Plains- Provides fertile lands for crops and livestock.
The Great Plains
Map in the Great Plains
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Take your time to draw in the area correctly… look at where the borders are… and label it
Great Plains• Once covered by a huge
inland sea
• Remains of fish and animals of that sea created a very rich sediment layer at the lake floor.
• Soil was uncovered as the water drained, it became a very rich source for agriculture
Appalachian Mountains
• Largest mountains on the east coast of the Largest mountains on the east coast of the United States. United States.
• High enough to collect snow in the winter,\High enough to collect snow in the winter,\
• “ “snow melt” becomes fresh water in the snow melt” becomes fresh water in the spring and forms into springs and riversspring and forms into springs and rivers
• which run down the mountain sides which run down the mountain sides providing drinking water and water for providing drinking water and water for agriculture irrigation agriculture irrigation
• Impenetrable natural border for early settlers Impenetrable natural border for early settlers
Map in the Appalachians
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Rocky Mountains • Tallest and and longest mountain range in the United States.
• Stretch from Texas to Canada.
• Europeans explorers unable to cross Rockies
• Much of the mountain range is too cold for permanent settlement
Map in the Rocky Mountains
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