The United States: by Regions

The Western States• Landforms

– Pacific Ranges

• Sierra Nevada• Cascade• Coastal • Alaska Range• Highest peak

– Mount McKinley» Alaska

– Rocky Mts• Link Canada and U.S.

• In between Mts.– Grand Canyon– Columbia Plateau– Great Basin

• Death Valley: hottest and lowest place in U.S.

• Water– Continental Divide

• Follow the Rockies, determine direction rivers flow

– Colorado River• Source in Rockies

– Rio Grande• Source in Rockies

• Economic Resources– Minerals– Fishing– Livestock– Farming

• Climate– Mid-Latitude:

• Marine West Coastal• Mediterranean

(California)

– Desert • Mojave and

Chihuahua

– Highland• b/c of elevation of

the Rockies• Timberline:

• Population Centers– Pacific Coast

• Pleasant climate, many natural resources/eco opp

• California is most populated state

– Megalopolis: “great city”• San Francisco-Los Angeles-San Diego

– All have major ports– The “Bay Area”– Northern California Megaregion

• Seattle– Major port

• Silicon Valley– San Francisco Bay area

The Midwest

• Landforms– Great Plains

• Water– Great Lakes– Mississippi River

• Resources– Farming

• “Wheat Belt”: Great Plain and Canadian Prairies• “Corn Belt”: Ohio-Nebraska• Dairyland: New York State to Minnesota

– Traditional region for dairy farmers

• Climate (Great Plains)– Humid Continental

• Bitter cold winters, hot summers• Super Cells/ Tornadoes

• Vegetation: Prairie– Tall grasses, no trees– Dust Bowl

• 1930s, caused by drought and poor farming techniques

• Top soil b/cme barren wasteland• Same time as Great Depression

• Population Centers– Detroit

• Center of car manufacturing industry

– Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Pittsburg• Connect to Ohio River

• Least populated areas– Arid parts of Great plains

• Rust Belt– Cities near Great Lakes

• Buffalo, Detroit, Cleveland, etc.

– Traditional manufacturing centers, loose $ and people when business move South

The South

• Landforms– Coastal Plains– Appalachians Mts

• Water– Mississippi River– Rio Grande– Gulf Intracoastal Waterway

• Connect FL to TX w/ Miss Rvr

• Resources– Fuel (oil and natural gas)– Farming

• Climate– Humid subtropical

• Long muggy summers, mild winter

– Hurricanes

• Wetlands/Swamps – Florida

• Region: “Sunbelt”• Southern states• Mild climate• Fastest growing pop. Area• Draw many immigrants b/c close to Mexico and Caribbean

• Population Centers– Miami– New Orleans– Texas Triangle: Houston, D/FW, San Antonio

• Megalopolis

The Northeast• Landforms

– Appalachian Mts• From Quebec to Alabama• Fall Line:_________________________

– Adirondack Mts– Islands: Manhattan

• Water– St. Lawrence River– Great Lakes

• Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway: connect to Atlantic Ocean

– Niagara Falls• Source of hydroelectric power for both

U.S. and Canada

• Resources– Fishing– Timber– Financial Center of U.S.

• Climate– Humid Continental

• Hot summers, Cold Winters• Winter Blizzards

• Population Centers– “BosWash”

• Boston-New York-Washington, D.C.-Philadelphia-Baltimore• North East Corridor