The Geography of the United States

US Geography BasicsUS Geography BasicsUS Geography BasicsUS Geography Basics

Third largest country in the world.

Half the size of Russia.

One third the size of Africa.

Half the size of South America.

2 ½ times the size of Western Europe.

Regions & Time Zones of the U. Regions & Time Zones of the U. S.S.

Regions & Time Zones of the U. Regions & Time Zones of the U. S.S.

Label as many states as you can:

Label the early regions of the English colonies:

1. Southern2. Middle3. New England

Topography of the USTopography of the USTopography of the USTopography of the US

What type of map is this?

The Contour of the USThe Contour of the USThe Contour of the USThe Contour of the US

How did these many rivers impact the development of America?

Name all the major bodies of water:

1. Atlantic Ocean2. Pacific Ocean3. Mississippi River4. Hudson River5. St. Lawrence River6. Ohio River7. Erie Canal8. Great Lakes9. Missouri River10.Colorado River11.Rio Grande12. Chesapeake Bay

Bodies of WaterBodies of WaterBodies of WaterBodies of Water

Chesapeake Chesapeake BayBay

Great Great Salt LakeSalt Lake

Great Lakes

RiversRiversRiversRivers

Hudson R

.

Hudson R

.

Potomac R.Potomac R.

Mississip

pi R

.M

ississipp

i R. Ohio R.Ohio R.

Missouri R

.

Missouri R

.

Arkansas R.

Arkansas R.

Colorado R.

Colorado R.

Columbia R.Columbia R.

Yukon R.Yukon R.

Rio Grande R.

Rio Grande R.

St. La

wre

nce

R.

St. La

wre

nce

R.

Label all the major mountain ranges:

1.Appalachian Mountains2.Rocky Mountains3.Sierra Nevada4.Great Plains

Mountains & PlateausMountains & PlateausMountains & PlateausMountains & Plateaus

App

alac

hian

Mts

.

App

alac

hian

Mts

.

Rocky Mts.

Rocky Mts.

Casca

de M

ts.

Casca

de M

ts.

Sierra N

evada M

ts.

Sierra N

evada M

ts.

Alaskan RangeAlaskan Range

^ Mt. Whitney^ Mt. Whitney

^ Mt. McKinley^ Mt. McKinley

^ Pike’s Peak^ Pike’s Peak

Adi

rond

ack

Mts

.

Adi

rond

ack

Mts

.

Great Plains

The Contour of the USThe Contour of the USThe Contour of the USThe Contour of the US

PlainsPlainsPlainsPlains

Central P

lains

Central P

lains

Atla

ntic

Coa

stal

Atla

ntic

Coa

stal

Pla

ins

Pla

ins

Gulf Coastal PlainsGulf Coastal Plains

GreatGreatBasinBasin

DesertsDesertsDesertsDeserts

Mohave Mohave DesertDesert

Death Death ValleyValley

Completed MapCompleted MapCompleted MapCompleted Map

LakeLakeOkeechobeeOkeechobee

Chesapeake Chesapeake BayBay

App

alac

hian

Mts

.

App

alac

hian

Mts

.

Rocky Mts.

Rocky Mts.

Cas

cade

Mts

.

Cas

cade

Mts

.

Sierra N

evada M

ts.

Sierra N

evada M

ts.

Alaskan RangeAlaskan Range

^ Mt. Whitney^ Mt. Whitney

^ Mt. McKinley^ Mt. McKinley

^ Pike’s Peak^ Pike’s Peak

Adi

rond

ack

Mts

.

Adi

rond

ack

Mts

.

Central P

lains

Central P

lains

Atla

ntic

Coa

stal

Atla

ntic

Coa

stal

Pla

ins

Pla

ins

Gulf Coastal PlainsGulf Coastal Plains

Great Great BasinBasin

Cum

berl

and

Cum

berl

and

Plat

eau

Plat

eau

Hudson R

.

Hudson R

.

Potomac R.Potomac R.

Mississip

pi R

.M

ississipp

i R. Ohio R.Ohio R.

Missouri R

.

Missouri R

.

Arkansas R.

Arkansas R.

Colorado R.

Colorado R.

Columbia R.Columbia R.

Yukon R.Yukon R.

Rio Grande R.

Rio Grande R.

St. La

wre

nce

R.

St. La

wre

nce

R.

Great Great Salt LakeSalt Lake

Mohave Mohave DesertDesert

Death Death ValleyValley

Climate of the U.S.

Essential Questions

1. How does geography affect how and where people live?

2. How did geographic factors affect political, social, and economic settlements of early Americas?

3. How does geography continue to affect the United States today?

4. Make some generalizations about the geography of America.

Now let’s take a QUIZ!

HOMEWORK

Study for a map quiz on the 50 states and key geographic features.

Note: You must achieve mastery on this quiz 85%! Otherwise you must retake it after school until you do!