Download Reasons for Regions Questions

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Reasons for Regions
By Trista L. Pollard
Our planet is a very big
place. Geographers and
other scientists are still
learning new information
about the Earth. To make
it easier to study the Earth,
they have divided it into
regions.
Regions are areas that have similar features. These areas may be
landform regions. Landform regions share the same types of
landforms. Climate regions have the same type of climate. Human
regions are formed when people of the same culture settle and live
in the same area. Let's start with landform regions.
In the United States (U.S.), there are many landform regions. In
fact, geographers have found eight large regions. However, we will
only talk about a few. If you live along the coast near the Atlantic
Ocean, then you are in the Atlantic Plain. This area is found in the
eastern part of the U.S. It is also located in the southeastern part of
the U.S. The Atlantic Plain is flat land. People visit the many
beaches in this region.
As you move west in the U.S., the land changes. Its elevation
begins to increase. Elevation is the height of land above sea level.
The Appalachian Mountains are located in the Appalachian
Highlands. These mountains are found in New England and run to
the southern part of the U.S. The middle of the U.S. is mostly flat
land. This region is the Interior Plains. You have probably heard it
called the Great Plains. This region has a lot of flat, grassy areas.
There are very few hills or mountains in this area.
If you live near the Pacific Ocean, then you are in the Pacific
Mountain System. This region is the opposite of the Atlantic Plain.
The Pacific Mountain System has many hills and mountains. The
land is the lowest very close to the ocean. People also visit the
beaches near the Pacific Ocean.
The U.S. has different climate regions. If you were to travel to
Hawaii or Florida, you would be in a tropical region. These regions
have a temperate climate. That means that the climate is not too hot
or too rainy. Think of it as summer all year long. If you traveled to
Alaska, you would be close to the Arctic or North Pole. This region
has very cold winters and short, mild summers. In the Great Plains,
the climate is mostly dry. The summers can be very hot. Although
there is some rain, it is not a lot in this region.
The last types of regions are human or cultural regions. These
regions got their identity from the people who came to live in these
areas. They may also share similar landforms and climate. The
Southwest U.S has a small population compared to the eastern U.S.
Many families who were Spanish-American and Native American
settled in this region in the past. If you travel to New Mexico, you
will see proof that their culture lived and worked there. This region
also has areas outside of cities that are open land. These deserts are
part of the southwestern picture of the U.S. The climate is also drier
here than in other areas.
New England was one of the first regions to be settled. These
immigrants came from Europe during the 1600s. This region has
rocky land and sandy plains. New England also has a very cold
climate during the winter.
Now you know the reason for regions. They help geographers to
understand how our planet's surface is shaped. Regions also tell
them about the climate and the cultures that are in an area.
Reasons for Regions
Questions
1. What are regions?
7. What type of climate is in Alaska?
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2. Tropical climates are found in the New England region.
A. False
B. True
3. How are landform regions different from climate regions?
8. Why is the Southwest a cultural region?
4. What are the features of the Atlantic Plain?
You are a landform region. What type of landforms would you have?
Write a journal entry that describes your life as a landform region.
5. What are the features of the Interior Plains?
6. The Pacific Mountain System has the same type of landforms
as the Atlantic Plain.
A. False
B. True
Name
Write an acrostic poem about regions. Use each letter in the word
"regions" to start each line of the poem.