Physical and Human Characteristics of a Geographical Area

Physical Characteristics

• Physical characteristics are features of the land itself, including rivers, coasts, bays, mountains, canyons, valleys, and lakes.
• Physical maps are used to display physical characteristics of an area.

Human Characteristics

• Human characteristics are features of a geographical area caused by humans, including cities, towns, dams, roads, and communication links.
• The largest cities in the United States are New York (8.4 million people), L.A. (3.9 million people), and Chicago (2.7 million people).
• Major U.S. cities are often located near bodies of water, providing fertile floodplain land for farming, ways to transport goods for trade, and freshwater for drinking.

Mountains in the United States

• The Rocky Mountains are the largest mountain range in the United States, stretching 3,000 miles.
• Other notable mountain ranges include the Appalachian Mountains, the Cascades, and the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Valleys and Canyons in the United States

• Notable valleys and canyons in the United States include Death Valley, the Grand Canyon, and Napa Valley.

Rivers in the United States

• The Missouri and Mississippi Rivers are the largest and most important rivers in the United States.
• Other notable rivers include the Rio Grande, the Colorado River, and the Yukon.

Lakes in the United States

• The Great Lakes in the Northeast (Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario) are the largest source of freshwater in the United States.
• Other notable lakes include the Great Salt Lake in Utah and Crater Lake.

States in the United States

• A state is a government in control of a territory and its people.
• The United States has 50 states, with Alaska being the largest and Rhode Island being the smallest.
• Principles for identifying states on a map include size, shape, panhandle, unique location, and region.

History of Settlement in the United States

• The original 13 colonies eventually became the United States.
• Westward expansion was driven by the availability of natural resources, government land purchases, and immigration.
• Factors contributing to rapid expansion include immigration, population pressure, transportation, and communication.

Canada

• Canada is the second-largest country in the world by land area.
• The Canadian Cordillera is a mountain range that joins several mountain ranges and forms the northern leg of a chain of mountains that stretches to the tip of South America.
• The Canadian Shield is the world's largest exposed bedrock, home to thriving forest land and numerous lakes.
• The Canadian Arctic Archipelago to the north remains frozen most of the year.

Physical Characteristics

• Physical characteristics are features of the land itself, including rivers, coasts, bays, mountains, canyons, valleys, and lakes.
• Physical maps are used to display physical characteristics of an area.

Human Characteristics

• Human characteristics are features of a geographical area caused by humans, including cities, towns, dams, roads, and communication links.
• The largest cities in the United States are New York (8.4 million people), L.A. (3.9 million people), and Chicago (2.7 million people).
• Major U.S. cities are often located near bodies of water, providing fertile floodplain land for farming, ways to transport goods for trade, and freshwater for drinking.

Mountains in the United States

• The Rocky Mountains are the largest mountain range in the United States, stretching 3,000 miles.
• Other notable mountain ranges include the Appalachian Mountains, the Cascades, and the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Valleys and Canyons in the United States

• Notable valleys and canyons in the United States include Death Valley, the Grand Canyon, and Napa Valley.

Rivers in the United States

• The Missouri and Mississippi Rivers are the largest and most important rivers in the United States.
• Other notable rivers include the Rio Grande, the Colorado River, and the Yukon.

Lakes in the United States

• The Great Lakes in the Northeast (Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario) are the largest source of freshwater in the United States.
• Other notable lakes include the Great Salt Lake in Utah and Crater Lake.

States in the United States

• A state is a government in control of a territory and its people.
• The United States has 50 states, with Alaska being the largest and Rhode Island being the smallest.
• Principles for identifying states on a map include size, shape, panhandle, unique location, and region.

History of Settlement in the United States

• The original 13 colonies eventually became the United States.
• Westward expansion was driven by the availability of natural resources, government land purchases, and immigration.
• Factors contributing to rapid expansion include immigration, population pressure, transportation, and communication.

Canada

• Canada is the second-largest country in the world by land area.
• The Canadian Cordillera is a mountain range that joins several mountain ranges and forms the northern leg of a chain of mountains that stretches to the tip of South America.
• The Canadian Shield is the world's largest exposed bedrock, home to thriving forest land and numerous lakes.
• The Canadian Arctic Archipelago to the north remains frozen most of the year.

This quiz covers the physical characteristics of an area, such as landforms, rivers, and mountains, as well as human characteristics, including cities, towns, and roads. It explains how physical maps are used to display physical characteristics.