PENNSYLVANIA Geography Important physical features

“If our history were a play, our geography would be the stage.”

I. Eq: What is geography? Geography --the study of natural resources and where and how people live on earth. Divided into two types of features 1. physical features—makes each place unique (mountains, valleys, lakes, forests) 2. human features—made by people (cities, farms, campsites, highways, etc.)

Location affects weather (day-to-day) and climate (long-term weather pattern) Characteristics of PA climate: -humid - temperature range from -42 to +111 - 4 seasons -weather varies (nor’easters)

III. EQ: What are the important landforms in Pennsylvania? A. Mountains PA contains part of the Appalachian Mountains that extend from Alabama to Quebec, Canada. Formed by the crashing together of tectonic plates.

III. What are the important landforms in PA? B. Valleys—flat with rolling hills Also formed by the crashing together of tectonic plates and erosion Valleys separate the ridges of the Appalachian Mountains. Alleghany Plateau is eroded into steep valleys

III. What are the important landforms in Pennsylvania? C. River systems—smaller rivers (tributary) flow into a larger river = river system Rivers cut and carve up the landscape. Important for transportation (goods and people) especially before highways or railroads 3 major river systems: 1. Ohio (formed by the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers) 2. Susquehanna 3. Delaware

Summary PA was: - folded (tectonic plates) - cut (rivers, glaciers) - pressed (peat pressed into coal, oil, natural gas)