(G4-2)_Final_SS_Chapter8_LS1_ Land and Water

The process by which wind and water wear away rock

A fossil fuel like oil

A factory that separates crude oil into different groups of chemicals.

<The Land>

Much of _____ and ________ is flat. The Coastal Plain extends inland from the Gulf of Mexico. It covers almost half of Texas. The Great Plains sweep south through the Midwest into Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico.

Much of ___ ______ and _______ is plateaus and mountains. In fact, most of New Mexico lies more than 4,000 feet above sea level. In southern New Mexico and Arizona, many mountain ranges rise up from the land. The ranges are separated by basins.

______ are low, slightly hollowed areas of land.

<Rivers and the Gulf>

The states of the Southwest form part of the southern border of the United States. In Texas, the ____ of ______ and the ___ ______ form part of the border. The Rio Grande separates Texas and Mexico. The Rio Grande is one of the great rivers of the nation. In fact, its name means “great river” in Spanish. The Rio Grande begins in the Rocky Mountains in the state of Colorado. It is one of the longest rivers in North America. It flows 1,900 miles south and east to the Gulf of Mexico.

The ________ River is another major river. It begins in the Rocky Mountains and empties in the Gulf of California. The Colorado River drains a large part of North America. That means that the rivers in the area flow into the Colorado River. This river also forms most of the western border of Arizona

<The Remarkable Grand Canyon>

In places, the _____ ______ is more than 18 miles wide. It is 6,000 feet deep at its deepest point. That is more than one mile! Birds fly thousands of feet below you in the canyon, including the rare California condor. At the bottom is the Colorado River. The land near the river is desert-like. There, rattlesnakes hunt their prey. At the top of the canyon are forests. The different types of vegetation make a journey down into the canyon like a trip from Canada to Mexico. The Grand Canyon is a World Heritage Site.

<The Work of Erosion>

_______ is a gradual process of wearing away soil and rock.

<The Work of Erosion>

Erosion is not only caused by ______. It can also be caused by _________, by melting and moving ________, and even by the ____. __________ causes erosion when it washes away dirt, soil, and rock such as limestone. ____ plays a role in erosion when it picks up sand and blows it against rocks or mountains. Even though sand seems harmless, its small, sharp edges wear away the surface of the rocks and mountains

______ Rock, in Arizona, was formed through the process of erosion.

<Natural Resources>

Rich mineral resources are found underground in the Southwest region.

In the highlands of New Mexico and Arizona, ______ is important to the economy.