United States Geography

1. United States Geography How River Systems and Land Forms affect our lives

2. Water Features of the US • Mississippi River (discovered by the French) Used as major highway north and south. Named for the Native American tribe, the Mississippi’s. • Missouri River (Major east and west water way to the Great Northwest…traveled by Lewis and Clark). • Ohio River ( creates a fertile valley that both the French and English wanted… led to the “French and Indian War” between these two European countries. • Hudson River ( Hudson River Valley important to early colonist for looking for a way to the west). • Erie Canal (man made water system connecting the Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley to the New York and the Atlantic Ocean). • Gulf of Mexico ( Highway for Spanish and French exploration and transporting of gold to Spain from Mexico). • Atlantic Ocean ( brought many colonists from England, traders from France, and soldiers for fortune from Spain). Also brought new religious cultures, and devastating diseases to the Native Americans. • Pacific Ocean ( goal of many American following the “American Revolution). Wanted to expand the United States westward….Manifest Destiny.

3. Mississippi River

4. Mississippi River • Most important river system in the United States • Flows from Minnesota to Gulf of Mexico – New Orleans • Major water route for shipping and trade to interior of US • Makes trade easier, faster, and cheaper

5. Take out your US Map • You will now begin mapping in the water sources • Use your map rules…label in print, write in a straight line from L to R, use black ink or pencil only. • Use colors (map pencil only) • Take your time to be accurate

6. Map in the Mississippi 1

7. Missouri River Missouri River Mississippi River

8. Missouri and Mississippi Rivers

9. Missouri River • Called the Big Muddy • Heavy load of silt in the water • Parts of the Gulf of Mexico are muddy because the Missouri flows into the Mississippi • Provides faster, cheaper ways to trade and move goods and people

10. Map in the Missouri 1 2

11. Ohio River

12. Ohio River Permanent and obvious boundary between states reducing land conflict in the area. Ohio River Valley desirable as an ideal place to fish, farm, and trade Source of conflict due to desirable land

13. Map in the Ohio 1 2 3

14. Mississippi River http://www.epa.gov/msbasin/

15. Hudson River

16. Hudson River

17. Hudson River • Links New York to the Great Lakes • Now runs through the largest city in the US!). • Provided a natural water route for the timber and beaver (fur)rich areas of the Northeast. • Used by natives, early Dutch, and English explorers and settlers • Today: it is used as a MAJOR inexpensive trade and transportation route

18. Map in the Hudson 4 1 2 3

19. Erie Canal • Man made waterway, • AKA Clinton’s Big Ditch • connected the important trade center of New York City, with the developing farmlands west of the Appalachian Mountains. • Allowed farmers to ship their goods, via the Great Lakes, to eastern markets quickly and cheaply. • Created westward expansion by allowing settlers to move through the once impenetrable Appalachian Mountains.

20. Map in the Erie Canal 5 1 4 2 3

21. Gulf of Mexico

22. Gulf of Mexico • Borders the southeast coast of the United States • Large OIL deposits. • Settlement in this area because of the natural harbors allowing easy trade and transportation

23. Map in the Gulf of Mexico Color in the area of the Gulf of Mexico and Label it 1 4 5 2 3 6 Gulf of Mexico

24. Atlantic Ocean Europe North America Africa South America

25. Atlantic ocean

26. Atlantic Ocean • Second largest ocean in the world and is • located east of the United States. • It runs from the cold, rocky coasts of New England (Maine to New Jersey) • to the warm, sandy beaches of Georgia and Florida

27. Map in the Atlantic Ocean 4 Color in the area of the Atlantic Ocean and label it 1 5 7 2 3 Atlantic Ocean 6

28. Pacific Ocean

29. Pacific Ocean

30. Pacific Ocean • Largest ocean in the world • Borders the west coast of the United States from California to Washington and Oregon states. • The Pacific coastline is mostly rocky with high, rough seas

31. 8 4 1 5 Pacific Ocean 2 Color in the area of the Pacific Ocean and label it 3 8 7 6

32. Land Features of the US • The Great Plains- Provides fertile lands for crops and livestock. • Appalachian Mountains – play an important role in early development of the English Colonies, prevents movement westward. • Rocky Mountains- a natural barrier for settlers heading west to overcome.

33. Great Plains The Great Plains- Provides fertile lands for crops and livestock.

34. The Great Plains

35. Map in the Great Plains 9 Take your time to draw in the area correctly… look at where the borders are… and label it

36. Great Plains • Once covered by a huge inland sea • Remains of fish and animals of that sea created a very rich sediment layer at the lake floor. • Soil was uncovered as the water drained, it became a very rich source for agriculture

37. Appalachian Mountains • Largest mountains on the east coast of the United States. • High enough to collect snow in the winter,\ • “snow melt” becomes fresh water in the spring and forms into springs and rivers • which run down the mountain sides providing drinking water and water for agriculture irrigation • Impenetrable natural border for early settlers

38. Map in the Appalachians 9 10

39. Rocky Mountains • Tallest and and longest mountain range in the United States. • Stretch from Texas to Canada. • Europeans explorers unable to cross Rockies • Much of the mountain range is too cold for permanent settlement

40. Map in the Rocky Mountains 9 11 10