Mrs. Shull
What is geography? That sounds like geology.Geography is the study of the shape of the
land.Does all of Pennsylvania have the same
landforms?NO!There are lots of different geographic areas in
Pennsylvania.
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The Allegheny Plateau.A plateau is a relatively level area that is raised
up above the rest of the land. Plateaus are often cut by steep-sided valleys
called canyons.“Mountains” and valleys – most mountains are
about the same height.Streams have a branching, tree-like – or
dendritic- pattern.Ridges and valleys – long, narrow ridges and
broad valleys.The Susquehanna River flows around the
ridge.
Muncy Creek Gaging Station
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?01553005
The Grand Canyon
Was this area once covered by water?YES! A large body of water once covered the land here.The rocks were formed from sediments being laid down,
then compressed – or “pressed” together.The land was “uplifted” – or raised, and the water
drained away.The land was eroded, or washed, away by stream
water.Freezing and thawing helped to “break up” the rock.Did a glacier cover the land where we live?
NO. But, it came pretty close. Areas to the north of us, and in the Poconos in Pennsylvania were covered by glaciers.
The rock beds, which were formed the same way as the ones above, were then “squashed” or folded by colliding land masses.Europe and Africa collided with North America.
After the land was uplifted and drained, streams started eroding away the weaker rocks, making big valleys.
Boulder field made from ice within the soil and rock, causing the rocks to “creep”.
From being located “near” glaciers, the climate was cold enough to freeze the water in the soil.
Dye Trace
Sinking Stream
YES. There are some areas where you can find caves.
How did caves form?The rock in which caves form is called
limestone. It is easily dissolved away by water.The water dissolves “pockets” of the limestone,
leaving caves.
Sinkholes
Pop Quiz! What kind of rocks do we find around
Muncy?A. IgneousB. SedimentaryC. Metamorphic
• How were the mountains around Muncy formed?
• Was Muncy covered by a glacier?• What kind of weathering causes caves and
sinkholes?