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UNIT 2 SECTION 5. MIDWEST. Agricultural Economy. Most of Midwest is flat Humus is a rich soil, great for farming Long hot summers, with adequate rainfall. Regional Variations. Variations contribute to what is grown Ohio gets twice as much rainfall as S. Dakota
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UNIT 2 SECTION 5 MIDWEST
Agricultural Economy • Most of Midwest is flat • Humus is a rich soil, great for farming • Long hot summers, with adequate rainfall
Regional Variations • Variations contribute to what is grown • Ohio gets twice as much rainfall as S. Dakota • Kansas growing season is over 200 days • Growing season near Canadian border about 120 days
Nations Breadbasket • Midwest farms are some of most productive in the world • High wheat output has led to Midwest being called nations bread basket • This output also allows for sizable amounts of exports
Farms and Change • Farms started out as modest family enterprises. • Today farming is big business. • Machinery has driven these changes.
Technology and Farming • 1800’s farm crops are getting larger • 1834 Cyrus McCormick patented a mechanical reaper • As more technology developed food production improved
Linking Farms and Cities • Midwest towns grow economically due to farming • Dairies and grain elevators are center of business activity • Chicago Mercantile Exchange, world’s busiest commodities market.
Soils of North America • Tundra Soils-where cold year round • Northern Forest Soils-cool wet climates • Prairie Soils-cool dry climates • Mountain Soils-Topsoil usually thin • Desert Soils-dry areas with few plants • Tropical Soils-wet, tropical climates
Transportation and Industry • Many cities grew along the rivers or great lakes due to trade • Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, and Minneapolis. • Railroads soon took over from water transportation.
Beautiful landscape • Snow capped peaks • Canyons • Massive glaciers • Volcanoes
Water • Availability of water shapes the vegetation in the west • Much of West is arid or semiarid • Washington West Coast is very wet
Natural resources • Minerals: gold, silver, uranium, other metals • Other resources: Oil and Natural gas • In the gold rush of 1800’s most did not strike it rich • Other resources: lumber and commerical fishing
City Growth • Transcontinental RR contributes to Western City Growth • 1880’s lower fairs to Los Angeles contributed to more growth • Huge aqueducts created to supply water to Los Angeles