Our LandOur Land

The United States of AmericaThe United States of America

Where in the world are we?Where in the world are we?

• Relative LocationRelative Location

This means This means describing where a describing where a place is relative to place is relative to what other places what other places are near or around are near or around it.it.

• Absolute LocationAbsolute Location

This means to give This means to give the latitude and the latitude and longitude of a longitude of a place.place.

Where in the world are we?Where in the world are we?

Northern HemisphereNorthern Hemisphere

Western HemisphereWestern Hemisphere

East of the Pacific OceanEast of the Pacific Ocean

West of the Atlantic OceanWest of the Atlantic Ocean

What some other ways of What some other ways of describing where the describing where the

United States is? United States is?

What are some ways of What are some ways of describing where the United describing where the United States is? States is? • In North AmericaIn North America

• North of MexicoNorth of Mexico

• South of CanadaSouth of Canada

Absolute LocationAbsolute Location

• Latitude and LongitudeLatitude and Longitude

An imaginary grid on the surface of An imaginary grid on the surface of the earththe earth

The American LandscapeThe American Landscape• Many special landforms make up the USA.Many special landforms make up the USA.

Physical FeaturesPhysical Features

• The United States of America is a The United States of America is a country filled with natural beauty.country filled with natural beauty.

LandformsLandforms

• MountainsMountains

• RiversRivers

• CoastsCoasts

• DesertsDeserts

• LakesLakes

• CanyonsCanyons

• PlainsPlains

• PlateausPlateaus

Mountains - A natural elevation of the earth's surface having considerable mass, generally steep sides, and a

height greater than that of a hill.

• The Appalachian Mountains are an old mountain range that runs almost the entire length of the East Coast, beginning in Canada and ending in Alabama.

The Rocky Mountains are found in the The Rocky Mountains are found in the western part of the United States. This western part of the United States. This rugged range extends from Canada rugged range extends from Canada to New Mexico. to New Mexico.

• Rivers –Rivers –large natural channel of water: a large natural channel of water: a natural stream of water that flows through land natural stream of water that flows through land and empties into another body of water and empties into another body of water

• The longest river in the US is the Mississippi. Its The longest river in the US is the Mississippi. Its source is a small lake in Minnesota; its mouth is in source is a small lake in Minnesota; its mouth is in Louisiana emptying into the Gulf of Mexico.Louisiana emptying into the Gulf of Mexico.

CoastCoast – land beside the sea – land beside the sea

Desert Desert - dry area: an area of - dry area: an area of land, land, usually in very hot usually in very hot

climates, climates, that consists only of that consists only of sand, gravel, sand, gravel, or rock with little or rock with little or no rain or no rain Death Valley, CA is the hottest and driest Death Valley, CA is the hottest and driest place in North Americaplace in North America

The Cape Cod The Cape Cod

National SeashoreNational Seashore

Lake – Lake – AA body of water completely surrounded by body of water completely surrounded by landland• The Great Lakes are a very The Great Lakes are a very BIGBIG examples examples

of this landformof this landform..

Canyons Plains PlateausCanyons Plains PlateausCanyon – a deep, narrow valley with steep sidesCanyon – a deep, narrow valley with steep sides

The most famous canyon in the us is the Grand The most famous canyon in the us is the Grand CanyonCanyon

• The Interior Plains and Great Plains lie in The Interior Plains and Great Plains lie in the center of the USA.the center of the USA.

• Plateau – very similar to a plain; plateaus Plateau – very similar to a plain; plateaus are flat with high elevation.are flat with high elevation.

PlainsPlains - large area of level land - large area of level land with little or no change in elevationwith little or no change in elevation

Too many to mention . . . . Too many to mention . . . .

• There are many more special There are many more special landforms found in the lower 48 as landforms found in the lower 48 as well as in Alaska and Hawaii.well as in Alaska and Hawaii.

• Let’s look at a physical map of the Let’s look at a physical map of the United States and find them.United States and find them.