Chapter 3 - Lesson 1 From Sea to Shining Sea The United States

The South pg 100 - 101 Coastal Plain – the low land that lies along an ocean Two major landforms in the South are the Appalachian Mountains and the Coastal Plain The contains some of the country’s largest swamps One of the largest swamps is found on the tip of Florida it is called the Everglades or “river of grass” Swamp – a wet, spongy area of shallow water where trees and bushes grow Everglades – a swampy grassland located in Florida

The South pg 100 - 101 Hurricane – a huge storm with heavy rains and high winds of greater than 74 mph The population in the South is growing and some of the largest cities in the country are in Texas: Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio People move South because of the favorable climate, warm temperatures and long summers The South is an important agricultural region, along the Coastal Plain many cash crops are grow such as peanuts, cotton, and citrus fruit This warm climate can also be dangerous during the months between June and November due to hurricanes

What factors allow the South to grow in population? (pg.101)

The Middle West pg 101 - 102 The Interior Plains lie within the Middle West or Mid-West, they consist of two parts the Central Plains and the Great Plains The fertile soil of the Central Plains makes for a great farming center or “heartland” of the United States Enough food is produced in this region to meet the needs of the U.S. and many other countries The Central Plains begin in Ohio and end just west of the Mississippi River The Great Plains start where the Central Plains stop and include some of the most remote areas of the U.S. where few people live. Extreme hot or cold temperatures and long dry seasons can make the Great Plains a difficult place to live

The Middle West pg 101 - 102

The Middle West pg 101 - 102 Tornado – a funnel shaped, spinning windstorm As in the South, dangerous storms sometimes threaten the people, animals, and crops in the Mid-West These storms are called tornados Tornado winds can reach more than 200 mph Tornado alley lies in the center of the Mid-West

The Middle West pg 101 - 102 The Mississippi River and all of its tributaries are the main source of water for cities and farms in the Mid-West Additionally, the Great Lakes are another important waterway in the Mid-West They were formed through the movement of glaciers thousands of years ago

Which part of the Mid-West is the country’s agricultural center? (pg.102)

The West pg. 102 - 103 Continental Divide – an imaginary line along the Rocky Mountains that divides the North American Continent into two parts Mountains are the most prominent landform in the West The largest mountain chain in the West are the Rocky Mountains, which stretch more than 3,000 miles from Mexico to Canada The highest peak in the Rockies is Mount Elbert in Colorado The Continental Divide is an imaginary line that divides North America On the eastern side of the Divide streams and rivers flow eastward and empty into the Mississippi River system On the western side of the Divide rivers flow west toward the Pacific Ocean

The West pg. 102 - 103 In addition to mountains the West is made up of large plateaus and deep canyons carved by the regions’ fast moving rivers One of the world’s most famous canyons, The Grand Canyon, lies in the West (Arizona) The lowest point in the United States is Death Valley in California, it is 282 ft below sea level Additionally, The West has areas of large forests with a mild, rainy climate that house some of the world’s largest sequoia and redwood trees The West contains Alaska and Hawaii, the two non-contiguous states that are among the least populated states The Hawaiian Islands are really the tops of volcanoes that rise above the ocean, two of which are still active and add land to Hawaii after each eruption With an average of about 1 person each square mile, Alaska has the lowest pop. Density of any state This is due largely to the cold, harsh climate and rugged landscape

The West pg. 102 - 103

Why does Alaska have the lowest population density of any state? (pg.103)

Remember Continental Divide Tornado Hurricane Coastal Plain Swamp Everglades Contiguous