Physical landforms of the U.S.

1. St. Lawrence River Great Plains Great Lakes Physical landforms of the U.S. Continental Divide Atlantic Coastal Plains Great Basin Death Valley Gulf of Mexico EQ: Where are 8 of the important physical features & landforms of the United States located?

2. The Atlantic Coastal Plains • A flat area of land of the coast of the Atlantic Ocean from southern New York to Florida • Less than 200 meters above sea level on average • Goes inland for between 50-100 kilometers • Generally good for growing crops

3. Label the Atlantic Coastal Plains on your map. Atlantic Coastal Plains

4. St. Lawrence River • Flows southwest to northeast through North America • A river that connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean • Serves as part of the border between Canada and the United States • Explored by John Cabot and Jacques Cartier • Named by Jacques Cartier after he sailed it

5. Label the St. Lawrence River on your map. St. Lawrence River Atlantic Coastal Plains

6. The Great Lakes • A collection of 5 freshwater lakes on the United States-Canada border • Largest surface area formation of freshwater lakes in the world • Hold 21% of the world’s freshwater • Are connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the St. Lawrence River

7. Label the Great Lakes on your map. 3 5 2 4 1 Great Lakes St. Lawrence River Atlantic Coastal Plains

8. The Gulf of Mexico • Ocean basin surrounded by FL, GA, AL, MS, LA, and TX • Part of the Atlantic Ocean • About half of it (light blue) is shallow water on the Continental Shelf • Is about 4,300 meters deep at its deepest • First European to explore it was Amerigo Vespucci in 1497

9. Label the Gulf of Mexico on your map. 3 5 2 4 1 Great Lakes St. Lawrence River Atlantic Coastal Plains Gulf of Mexico

10. The Great Plains • A large area of flat land made up mainly of grasslands and prairies • Located west of the Mississippi River and East of the Rocky Mountains • Cover Montana, Nebraska, Colorado, North and South Dakota, Kansas, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico • Also reach into Canada

11. Label the Great Plains on your map. 3 5 2 4 1 Great Lakes Great Plains St. Lawrence River Atlantic Coastal Plains Gulf of Mexico

12. The Continental Divide • Imaginary boundary that separates waters that flow into the Atlantic Ocean & Gulf of Mexico from those that flow into the Pacific Ocean • Runs northwest to southeast from Alaska to northern South America

13. Label the Continental Divide on your map. 3 5 2 4 1 Great Lakes Great Plains Continental Divide St. Lawrence River Atlantic Coastal Plains Gulf of Mexico

14. The Great Basin • An area covering most of Nevada and also some of the surrounding states of Oregon, Utah, and California where water is trapped • Because it is so hot, water evaporates here or soaks in to the ground • Is usually a warm, dry area but occasionally gets snow Visit the following website for more information: http://www.nps.gov/grba/index.htm

15. Label the Great Basin on your map. 3 5 2 4 1 Great Lakes Great Plains Continental Divide St. Lawrence River Great Basin Atlantic Coastal Plains Gulf of Mexico

16. Death Valley • Lowest, hottest, driest location in the United States • Valley located in the Mojave Desert and Great Basin in eastern California • Almost 300 feet below sea level • Is so hot because the sun heats the ground and the heat is trapped by the surrounding elevations as it rises • Hottest recorded temperature is 134˚F • Coolest recorded temperature is 15˚F • Visit website below for more information http://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm

17. Label Death Valley on your map. 3 5 2 4 1 Great Lakes Great Plains Continental Divide St. Lawrence River Great Basin Death Valley Atlantic Coastal Plains Gulf of Mexico