Physical Geography of the U.S.

United States




Learning Intention

Explain how tectonic activity and physical features have shaped the geography of the United States.
Success Criteria
I can define the U.S. physical geography.

I can explain how physical systems have created major landforms in the U.S.
I can analyze the importance of the natural resources in the U.S

By Ghinwa Fawwaz

Open Ended

What tectonic plate movement was responsible to the formation of the Appalachian mountains in the United States? 

Draw

Plot the major landscapes in the U.S.

you can get the help of the link below

https://gisgeography.com/physical-map-united-states/

Open Ended

The shape and location of the Cascade Range affect climate conditions on the Columbia Plateau.

1. Drawing Conclusions What type of vegetation would you expect to find in the flat plateau areas between mountain ranges?

2. Analyzing How does the rain shadow effect impact the Columbia Plateau?

Open Ended

The fall line of the eastern United States indicates where the higher land of the Piedmont drops to meet the Atlantic Coastal Plain.

1. PHYSICAL SYSTEMS How does the Continental Divide affect the flow of rivers in the western United States?

2. PLACES AND REGIONS Describe how the fall line influenced economic development in the eastern United States.

Open Ended

Formed when glacier basins filled with water, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and Lake Michigan make up the Great Lakes. The glaciers uncovered major deposits of natural resources, including iron ore and coal, that later spurred explosive economic growth. The Great Lakes serve many economic and recreational purposes, but none more valuable than the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Seaway System, a series of canals, rivers, and waterways linking the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. The seaway helped make cities along the Great Lakes, such as Chicago, powerful trade and industrial centers.

How were the Great Lakes formed?

Natural Resources 

The United States is rich with natural resources including water, fossil fuels, timber, fish, and more. Fossil fuels were formed over hundreds of millions of years from the fossilized remains of plants and animals. This makes them nonrenewable. Also, because they must be retrieved from the ground, there can be damage to the environment when they are extracted from the Earth. Fossil fuels include coal, petroleum, and natural gas. They can be found in great supply in Texas and Alaska, which rank first and second respectively in U.S. petroleum reserves. The United States has the largest known coal reserves in the world and soon may be the largest producer of oil. The United States has plentiful mineral resources as well. The Rocky Mountains yield gold and silver. Other minerals include copper, lead, phosphates, uranium, iron, mercury, nickel, silver, and zinc. Free and abundant access to this natural wealth helped to speed the industrialization of the United States and has helped to create one of the most prosperous countries in the world.

Fish are also an important natural resource. Commercial fishing in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Gulf of Mexico is important to the U.S. economy. The large commercial fishing companies and small family businesses provide employment for many people, as well as food for domestic consumption and for export.

Word Cloud

Lately, the U.S decided to increase the usage of the coal!

How do you see the impact of this decision on both the U.S economy and on the environmental level.