Geographic Regions of North Geographic Regions of North AmericaAmerica

Remember: North America is a continent. United States is a country!

PurposePurpose

Understand that geographic regions have Understand that geographic regions have distinctive characteristics.distinctive characteristics.

Identify the geographic regions of North Identify the geographic regions of North America, and describe the physical America, and describe the physical characteristics of each region.characteristics of each region.

What You NEED To KnowWhat You NEED To Know

Where are the regions Where are the regions located? (Locate them on a located? (Locate them on a map)map)

What are some physical What are some physical characteristics of the characteristics of the geographic regions of geographic regions of North America? (What North America? (What does each region does each region looklook like?)like?)

Remember the Regions!Remember the Regions!CCananAAllllIIntelligentntelligentGGirlsirlsRReadeadBBooksooksCCorrectly orrectly

This mnemonic device helps you remember the regions in order from west to east.

NEVER FORGET THE CANADIAN SHIELD!

Coastal PlainCoastal Plain Located along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Located along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf

of Mexicoof Mexico Broad lowlands providing many excellent Broad lowlands providing many excellent

harborsharbors

Coastal Plain is highlighted in red.

Coastal Plain PicturesCoastal Plain Pictures

Baltimore, MD harbor (see the boats!)

Appalachian HighlandsAppalachian Highlands Located west of the Coastal Plain, Located west of the Coastal Plain,

extending from eastern Canada to extending from eastern Canada to western Alabama; includes the Piedmontwestern Alabama; includes the Piedmont

Old, eroded mountains (oldest mountain Old, eroded mountains (oldest mountain range in North America)range in North America)

Appalachian Highland

region highlighted in

red

Appalachian Highland PicturesAppalachian Highland PicturesNotice the tops of these mountains. They are rounded, which means the are old and eroded; new mountains come to a point.

How can mountains be new or old? It has to do when the earth’s tectonic plates and when they collide. Want to understand more? Ask Mr. Hunt about tectonic plates!

Canadian ShieldCanadian Shield Wrapped around the Hudson Bay in a Wrapped around the Hudson Bay in a

horseshoe shapehorseshoe shape Hills worn by erosion and hundreds of Hills worn by erosion and hundreds of

lakes carved by glacierslakes carved by glaciers

Canadian Shield region highlighted

in red

Canadian Shield PicturesCanadian Shield Pictures

Interior LowlandsInterior Lowlands Located west of the Appalachian Located west of the Appalachian

Mountains and east of the Great PlainsMountains and east of the Great Plains Rolling flatlands with many rivers, broad Rolling flatlands with many rivers, broad

river valleys, and grassy hillsriver valleys, and grassy hills

Interior Lowlands region highlighted

in red

Interior Lowland PicturesInterior Lowland Pictures

Great PlainsGreat Plains Located west of the Interior Lowlands and Located west of the Interior Lowlands and

east of the Rocky Mountainseast of the Rocky Mountains Flat lands that gradually increase in Flat lands that gradually increase in

elevation westward; grasslandselevation westward; grasslands

Great Plains region highlighted in red

Great Plain PicturesGreat Plain Pictures

Rocky MountainsRocky Mountains Located west of the Great Plains and east of the Located west of the Great Plains and east of the

Basin and RangeBasin and Range Rugged mountains stretching from Alaska Rugged mountains stretching from Alaska

almost to Mexico; high elevationsalmost to Mexico; high elevations Contains the Continental Divide, which Contains the Continental Divide, which

determines the directional flow of riversdetermines the directional flow of rivers

Rocky Mountains region highlighted in red

Rocky Mountain PicturesRocky Mountain Pictures

Basin and RangeBasin and Range Located west of the Rocky Mountains and east Located west of the Rocky Mountains and east

of the Sierra Nevadas and the Cascadesof the Sierra Nevadas and the Cascades Varying elevations containing isolated mountain Varying elevations containing isolated mountain

ranges and Death Valley, the lowest point in ranges and Death Valley, the lowest point in North AmericaNorth America

Basin and Range region highlighted in

red

Basin and Range PicturesBasin and Range Pictures

Death Valley

Coastal RangeCoastal Range Located along the Pacific Coast, Located along the Pacific Coast,

stretching from California to Canadastretching from California to Canada Rugged mountains and fertile valleysRugged mountains and fertile valleys

Coastal Range region highlighted in red

Coastal Range PicturesCoastal Range Pictures

Help Yourself Study!Help Yourself Study!

If you see a blank map of the regions, you need If you see a blank map of the regions, you need to be able to label each region.to be able to label each region.

If you are given a description of a region, you If you are given a description of a region, you need to be able to know which region is being need to be able to know which region is being described.described.

If you see a picture of a region, you need to be If you see a picture of a region, you need to be able to identify the region.able to identify the region.

On the SOL Test, there will be 9 questions on On the SOL Test, there will be 9 questions on this information.this information.