Mrs Hansen Geography CHAPTER 3 THE UNITED STATES

Mrs. Hansen Geography CHAPTER 3: THE UNITED STATES

Section 1: From sea to shining sea � US is made up of 50 states and 48 of which are all connected �These are called the contiguous states

� The East · Two major landforms ○ The Appalachian Mountains ○ Coastal Plains �Coastal plain—low land that lies along an ocean. ○ it stretches from NE where it is very narrow to the Florida Peninsula then it goes west along the Gulf Coast

� The Northeast �Largest population density! �The largest cities are found along the Atlantic coast �Cities like New York, Philadelphia and Boston’s location make them major manufacturing and trade centers �NE is a region of broad valleys and rolling hills and to the West are the Appalachian Mountains

� The South �The South contains many of the country’s swamps ○ Everglades -the largest swamp in the U. S. , covers 4, 000 sq miles in southern Florida. � Warm temperatures, long summers, and a lot of rain make the south a great agricultural area

� Warm temperatures, long summers, and a lot of rain make the south a great agricultural area �Farms in the coastal plains grow– peanuts, cotton, and citrus fruit. � Weather is often a threat– examples �Hurricane

� The Mid- West �Large area of flat plains ○ Two parts to the plains 1. 2. ○ The Central Plains= start in Ohio and End just West of the Mississippi River The Great Plains= Start when the central plains end and end at the Rocky Mountains Farming is the main industry in this region � Dangerous storms ○ Tornadoes

�This area is the drainage basin of the Mississippi River ○ Another source of water = the Great Lakes �Formed thousands of years ago by glacial movement and melting 1. Superior 2. Michigan 3. Huron 4. Erie 5. Ontario

� The West �Dominant landform= Rocky Mountains �The highest peaks of the Rocky Mountains = the Great Divide(GD) ○ Rivers to the West of the GD flow to the Pacific Ocean ○ Rivers to the East of the GD flow to the Gulf of Mexico

�Other physical features include ○ Large plateaus and Canyons �The Grand Canyon �The lowest point in the USA is located in Death Valley California ○ Areas of Forests with mild rainy climate �Giant Sequoias and Redwoods that grow higher than 300 feet

� Hawaii �A group of islands created by volcanoes ○ This type of island chain is called an archepelago � Alaska �Average population= 1 person per Sq Mile �Cold climate and a rugged landscape