Exploring the Land Physical Geography of Anglo America

America the Beautiful O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

Coastal Plains Atlantic Coastal Plains – NE United States Gulf Coastal Plains – Southern United States Piedmont- rolling hills with fast streams and rivers

Appalachian Highlands Appalachian Mountains: mountain chain that extends 1,600 miles from Canada to Alabama. The Appalachian Mountains are more than 400 million years old and have been eroded down by the elements. Many of the peaks are only between 1,200 and 2,400 feet high.

The Great Plains

Plains of the United States Great Basin Central Plains Gulf Coastal Plains Atlantic Coastal Plains

The Great Plains = Midwest The Great Plains is known as “America’s Breadbasket” due to its fertile soil and vast grasslands. The Canadian Shield lies farther north of the Interior Lowlands. It is mostly rocky flat land near the Hudson Bay.

Mountains and Plateaus Cascade Mts. Sierra Nevada Mts. ^ Mt. Whitney Rocky Mts. ^ Pike’s Peak Appalachian Mts. Adirondack Mts. Alaskan Range ^ Mt. McKinley

The West: The Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains extend 3,000 miles from Alaska to New Mexico. The Rocky Mountains are still a young mountain change (80 million years old), so the erosion process has yet to start. The highest peak reaches 12,000 feet high!

Continental Divide The Continental Divide is the highest points in the Rocky Mountains. It marks the separation between rivers flowing west and east.

Islands Canada has three islands near the Artic circle: Ellesmere, Victoria, and Baffin Greenland is the largest island in North America Victoria Is. Ellesmere Is. Baffin Is. Greenland

Islands The Hawaiian islands lie in the central Pacific Ocean. The Hawaiian islands are not geographically part of North America, but are politically part of the United States The Hawaiian Islands are known for its lush tropical vegetation, volcanic activity, and pretty beaches….perfect vacation hot spot!

Deserts Mohave Desert – 3,000 Death Valley, CA million acres, 95% wilderness.

Bodies of Water Chesapeake Bay Chesapeake Bay Lake Okeechobee Great Salt Lake

The Great Lakes

Using the Great Lakes…

Niagara Falls US side Canadian side

Rivers Ohio R. Mississippi R. Arkansas R. Rio Grande R. Colorado R. Columbia R. Missouri R. Hudson R. Potomac R. St. Lawrence R.

The Mississippi: America’s Great River Road The “Big Muddy”. 2,350 miles. Draining all or part of 31 states & 2 Canadian provinces. Covers 40% of the U. S.

The Great Salt Lake 2000 square miles. 10’ – 28’ deep. 6 times saltier than the oceans.

National Forests

Glacier National Park, MT Mt. Rushmore National Park, SD Grand Teton National Park, WY

Grand Canyon National Park, AZ Everglades National Park, FL Yellowstone National Park, MT