US Geography: Physical Features and Regions

Physical Features of the US East of the Mississippi River

• The US East of the Mississippi River is divided into four subregions: New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest, and the Southeast.
• The Mississippi River is one of the longest rivers in the world, stretching 2320 miles (3733 km) and running through 10 states in the US and one province in Canada.
• Facts about the Great Lakes:
  • Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area.
  • Lake Michigan's shore is home to the largest freshwater sand dunes in the world.
  • The Great Lakes are the largest freshwater system in the world.
  • More than 20% of all the world's freshwater is in the Great Lakes.
  • Lake Superior contains half of the water in all the Great Lakes.

History of the US East of the Mississippi River

• Early America:
  • Indigenous people were the first Native Americans.
  • Colonists were people who took over a land to settle there.
  • In 1492, Christopher Columbus arrived in America, mistakenly thinking it was India.
• Colonization:
  • European countries started trying to colonize America and push the Native Americans away.
  • The Europeans (UK, France, Spain, and Germany) traded with the Native Americans, migrated, and shared technology and religions.
  • The Native Americans were impacted by diseases, and many died.
• Settling the Land:
  • European settlers bought and farmed land inland along the Mississippi River between 1700 and 1800.
  • After the discovery of gold in the Southeast during the 1830s, many settlers moved to the region.
  • After slavery became illegal, many people relocated from the South to the North.
  • In the 1900s, many people moved to cities to work in factories.

Physical Features of the US West of the Mississippi River

• Physical Landscape:
  • The Great Plains:
    • Located in the West of the Mississippi River.
    • Flat or rolling land.
    • Tilted downward toward the East.
    • Before covered by wild grasses.
    • Now covered by farms and ranches.
  • Mountains and Hills:
    • Hills were once mountains.
    • Mountains make 1/5 of the world landscape.
    • Peak reach up to 14000 feet (4267M).
  • Landforms of Alaska:
    • Largest US state area.
    • Mont McKinley (or Denali) highest point in the US.
  • Landforms of Hawaii:
    • About 2400 miles.
    • Located nearly Southeast of California.
    • Includes 130 islands.
    • 2 active volcanoes Mauna Loa – Kilauea.
• Bodies of Water:
  • Basins and Plateaus:
    • Facts about the region's bodies of water and landforms.