1. Our Land The United States of America

3. Where in the world are we? Relative Location Relative Location This means describing where a place is relative to what other places are near or around it. Absolute Location Absolute Location This means to give the latitude and longitude of a place.

4. Where in the world are we? Northern Hemisphere Western Hemisphere East of the Pacific Ocean West of the Atlantic Ocean

5. What some other ways of describing where the United States is?

6. What are some ways of describing where the United States is? In North America North of Mexico South of Canada

7. Absolute Location Latitude and Longitude Latitude and Longitude An imaginary grid on the surface of the earth An imaginary grid on the surface of the earth

8. The American Landscape Many special landforms make up the USA. Many special landforms make up the USA.

9. Physical Features The United States of America is a country filled with natural beauty. The United States of America is a country filled with natural beauty.

10. Landforms Mountains Mountains Rivers Rivers Coasts Coasts Deserts Deserts Lakes Lakes Canyons Canyons Plains Plains Plateaus Plateaus

11. Mountains - A natural elevation of the earth's surface having considerable mass, generally steep sides, and a height greater than that of a hill.

12. The Appalachian Mountains are an old mountain range that runs almost the entire length of the East Coast, beginning in Canada and ending in Alabama.

13. The Rocky Mountains are found in the western part of the United States. This rugged range extends from Canada to New Mexico.

14. Rivers – large natural channel of water: a natural stream of water that flows through land and empties into another body of water Rivers – large natural channel of water: a natural stream of water that flows through land and empties into another body of water The longest river in the US is the Mississippi. Its source is a small lake in Minnesota; its mouth is in Louisiana emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. The longest river in the US is the Mississippi. Its source is a small lake in Minnesota; its mouth is in Louisiana emptying into the Gulf of Mexico.

16. Coast – land beside the sea Desert - dry area: an area of land, usually in very hot climates, that consists only of sand, gravel, or rock with little or no rain Death Valley, CA is the hottest and driest place in North America The Cape Cod National Seashore

17. Lake – A body of water completely surrounded by land The Great Lakes are a very BIG examples of this landform. The Great Lakes are a very BIG examples of this landform.

18. Canyons Plains Plateaus Canyon – a deep, narrow valley with steep sides The most famous canyon in the us is the Grand Canyon

19. The Interior Plains and Great Plains lie in the center of the USA. The Interior Plains and Great Plains lie in the center of the USA. Plateau – very similar to a plain; plateaus are flat with high elevation. Plateau – very similar to a plain; plateaus are flat with high elevation. Plains - large area of level land with little or no change in elevation

20. Too many to mention.... There are many more special landforms found in the lower 48 as well as in Alaska and Hawaii. There are many more special landforms found in the lower 48 as well as in Alaska and Hawaii. Let’s look at a physical map of the United States and find them. Let’s look at a physical map of the United States and find them.