Unit 1 Lesson 2 New Jerseys Natural Regions

Unit 1 Lesson 2 New Jersey’s Natural Regions HOW HAVE THE REGIONS OF NEW JERSEY BEEN FORMED OVER TIME? WHAT ARE THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF NEW JERSEY’S NATURAL REGIONS?

Vocabulary �Glacier �Erosion �Till �Sea level �Silt �Vegetation

Glaciers Shape New Jersey �Scraped their way across the land causing erosion �Glaciers formed: Deep valleys Flattened ridges Lakes

New Jersey’s Natural Regions �Appalachian Ridge and Valley �Highlands �Piedmont �Atlantic Coastal Plain

Appalachian Ridge and Valley �Lies in the northwestern corner of New Jersey �Part of the Appalachian Mountain chain �Has many attractions �High Point in the Kittatinny Mountains is the highest point �Delaware Water Gap: Delaware River cuts a deep gap, or pass, through the Kittatinny Mountains

Highlands �Lies east of the Appalachians �Includes rolling hills, hardwood forests, and fertile valleys � 1, 000 feet above sea level �Lake Hopatcong and Lake Musconetcong

Piedmont Region �Lies at the base of the Appalachians “at the foot of the mountain” �Tall cliffs, called Palisades, hug the western shore of the Hudson River � 100 -200 feet above sea level �Many of New Jersey’s major rivers flow through here

Atlantic Coastal Plain �Largest region �Uncovered when the level of the Atlantic Ocean fell millions of years ago �Two parts: Inner Coastal Plain � Greensand Belt � Southwestern border of NJ � Soil: fertile mixture of clay, sand, and silt � Orchards, dairies, vegetable farms Outer Coastal Plain � Soil: sandy � Blueberries and cranberries � Pinelands: oak and pine forests � Salt marshes, lagoons, and sand bars line the area