Geography of the u s

A brief survey of the American physical geography Eastern United States Central United States Western United States... The Eastern coast coastal plains is a long, gently rolling lowla

NHÓM 3:

Geography of the U.S.

A brief survey of the American physical geography

Eastern United States

Central United States

Western United States

1 A brief survey of the American physical geography

is a federal republic of 50 states

There are 48 conterminous states

The other two states, Hawaii and Alaska are situated respectively in the tropical part of the Pacific Ocean, near the Arctic circle

Topography

Tremendous variety in physical features, ranking from most rain forest to arid desert and bald mountain peaks

The Eastern coast (coastal plains) is a long, gently rolling lowland area.

- Stretch from Maine to Texas, are very flat and often swampy

- Poor soil, except the fertile southern part

- a chain of low, almost unbroken mountains at the western edge of the Atlantic coastal plain (Appalachian Mount)

The Central Plains is vast , broken by the Superior Upland and Black Hills in the North and Ozark Plateau in the South

- The interior plains are divided into 2 major parts: the wetter, eastern portion is called the Central

plains and the western portion is the Great plains

The U.S has several immense long rivers

There are a large number of rivers in the eastern part of the nation

The Mississippi – Missouri – Red Rock system extends for 6,176 km before entering the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans

Two other tributaries of the Mississippi – the Ohio and Tennessee – are more than 1,250km long

Weather and Climate

Every type of climate can be found somewhere in the U.S – from arctic in Alaska to subtropical in Florida

Most of the country has a humid continental climate with hot summers & cold winters

Lack of natural barriers either to north or the south => cold , dry air to flow south from Canada & warm, humid air north from the Gulf of Mexico

rise to spectacular weather of every possible type in the Great plains and Midwest

Weather and Climate

Summer are hot & very humid in the Great Plains and Midwest

Rainfall decreases to the west as a result of the rain shadow created by the West Pacific range and Sierra Nevada

The southwest portion of the Great Plains is the hottest & most arid region of the U.S

Weather and Climate

The Pacific coast is almost rainless in the summer, although often fog In winter, there is frequent drizzle, but the remains warm and dry

The part of the country is moderately rainy Summers tend to be extremely humid, especially along the coast of Texas and Florida

is subject to a range of climate-related calamities such as hurricanes in the Southeast, tornadoes

on the Plains, flooding around the main rivers, severe snowstorms in the mountains

Natural resources

The major resource is iron (3/4 in the Lake Superior region of the Great Lakes)

Other basic metals and minerals mined on large scale are zinc, copper, silver, and phosphate rock (used for fertilizers)

Produces one-quarter of the world’s coal and one-seventh of its petroleum

Nuclear power is also used in many places, using uranium mined in New Mexico and Wyoming

2 Eastern United States

is not a region of impressive topographic characteristics However, the concentration of numerous urban areas is greater than any other regions in the U.S

Divided into 2 main parts:

1. The Atlantic Coast and the Gulf Coast

2. The Appalachian Mountains

The Atlantic Coast & the Gulf Coast

The Atlantic coastline stretches 3,330 km from the northern reaches of Maine to the southern tip

of Florida

The Atlantic Coast & the Gulf Coast

The Gulf of Mexico coastline extends 2,625 km from the southern tip of Texas to the southern reaches of Florida

The Atlantic Northeast

is a land of bare rock, thin soils, rugged coastlines, swift streams and slow-growing forests limited resources, poor soils and distant location from the main flow of U.S commercial activity

The Atlantic Northeast

the economy is very restricted and offers limited employment opportunities

harsh climate, thin soils, and short growing season rule out most cultivated crops the main rural economy depends on dairy and poultry farms

The Southeastern coast

is a narrow strip along the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico

begins in southern Virginia, extends along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, ends in Texas at the border with Mexico

is dynamic with a range of both traditional and modern characteristics in its culture and economy

The Appalachian Mountains

The Appalachian Mountains

cover a huge, almost unbroken area, over 932 km long & a couple of hundred km wide

is dominated by steep slopes & narrow valleys

The entire range of the Appalachian Mountains is cloaked in deep, thick, dense forests

3 Central United States

often called the Interior Plains

is a vast, almost unbroken plain, which extends from Canada southward to Mexico and from the Appalachian westwards to the Rocky Mountains

may be divided into 2 sections:

- The fertile central lowland in the East

- The Great Plains in the West

Central Lowland

Divided into 5 sections:

1. The Northern Forests

2. The Heartland

3. The inland South

4. Great Lakes

5. Mississippi River

3.1 The Northern Forests

extend through much of central Canada and Alaska

include much of northeastern Minnesota as well as northern Wisconsin and Michigan characterized by abundant rivers and lakes

economy relies on the export via shipping routes of the Great Lakes

3.2 The Heartland

The term Heartland is used as a synonym for the Midwestern U.S (Midwest)

To the South of the northern forests is the vast central lowland

is the most extensive area of highly productive farmland, as well as the industrial core of the continent

contains the largest population of any region of the nation

3.3 The Inland South

a transition zone between the Southeastern coast & the Heartland

consists of rolling plains and hills covered by grassland and mixed forests Agriculture has long been a major part of the region’s economy

The Great Plains

stretch from Canada to Mexico

The plains feature productive grain and livestock farms and extensive petroleum and coal deposits

characterized by flat to gently sloping land, with elevations of 1,500 to 1,800m in the West, sloping gradually to elevations 500m in the East

is known for extensive farming and ranching, fertile soils, production of minerals (coal, petroleum, natural gas, etc.)

4 Western United States

4 Western United States

characterized by a chain of mountain systems, which is part of the systems of Western North America

is a region of tremendous variety, which can be subdivided into various sub-regions:

1. The Rocky Mountains

2. The Intermontane Basins and Plateaus

3. The Pacific Mountain system

4.1 The Rocky Mountains

4.1 The Rocky Mountains

has plains and deserts, but the main geographic feature is the Rocky Mountains (the Rockies) stretch more than 4,800 km from Alaska to northern Mexico, include many smaller ranges

characterized as an area of breathtaking scenery, rugged terrain, scanty resources and scattered population

4.1 The Rocky Mountains

Population has been very sparse throughout history

The two major commercial activities are mining and tourism

Rich in natural resources: oil, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc and other materials Tourism is based on abundant natural attractions and outdoor recreation

4.2 The Intermontane Region

Between the Rockies and the Pacific coastal ranges consists of three distinctive sub-regions:

- The extensive Columbia Plateau in the North

- The vast Colorado Plateau in the South

- A vast basin and range country

4.2 The Intermontane Region

The water of the rivers is used extensively

(for farms, industry and home)

The most impressive scenic wonder of the

world is the Grand Canyon (Arizona)

is considered one of the finest examples of

arid-land erosion in the world

The Great Salt Lake

The Death Valley

4.3 The Pacific Mountain System

Between the Intermontane Region and

the Pacific Ocean

series of ranges paralleling the coast

includes the Cascade Mountains, the

Sierra Nevada, and the Coastal Ranges

Sierra Nevada

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