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Student Reading 13.10: The Regions of Ohio
Ohio has five natural regions which formed more than 10,000 years ago. A
natural region is an area that shares the same natural features. These places have
similar climate, landforms, and bodies of water. Ohio’s regions are the Till Plains,
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Activity 13.10: The Natural Regions of Ohio
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Lake Plains, Glaciated Appalachian Plateau, the Un-glaciated Appalachian Plateau,
and the Bluegrass Region.
The Till Plains
Much of the Till Plains of western Ohio has good soil for farming. Crops
include corn, wheat, and soybeans. As the glaciers retreated from Ohio, they left
behind deep beds of till, a mixture of sand, gravel, and small rocks, which make
soil very rich. These beds of glacial till can be as deep as 400 feet and support
important sources of water. The highest point in Ohio (1,549 feet above sea level)
is Campbell Hill in Logan County. This region also contains the lowest point in the
state (455 feet above sea level), on the banks of the Ohio River near Cincinnati.
Major cities in this region include: Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton.
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Activity 13.10: The Natural Regions of Ohio
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Date____________________
The Lake Plains
Ohio’s flattest lands are in the Lake Plains on the southern shore of Lake
Erie. These plains, an area of low, flat lands, were made by very large, glacial-age
lakes in the area were Lake Erie is today. The glacial lakes covered much of the
Great Lakes region,
including cast areas
that are dry land
today. The soils in
this region come
from deposits laid
down in the ancient
(This photograph was taken by the Ohio Department of Agriculture and shows
and a barn and greenhouse on the Brigham farm in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Courtesy of Ohio Pix.)
lake beds. Soils in the
western portion of this region are very good for agriculture. Farmers grow
soybeans, corn, wheat, apples, and grapes. This region also includes a lot of lowlying, wetlands. This area of northwest Ohio, along the Maumee River, is known
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Activity 13.10: The Natural Regions of Ohio
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as the Black Swamp. Two major cities in the Lake Plain region are Cleveland and
Toledo.
Glaciated Appalachian Plateau
Central and
northeastern Ohio is part
of Ohio’s Glaciated
Appalachian Plateau. A
plateau is an area of high,
flat land. Glaciers
flattened this land and
left till in the soil, which
(This photograph shows employees at hand-operated sheet mills
involved in steel production. Courtesy of Ohio Pix.)
was good for farming, and pasture land. The land has rolling hills and broad, flat
valleys. On this land, Ohioans built factories for industrial work in Akron, Canton,
and Youngstown.
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Activity 13.10: The Natural Regions of Ohio
Name____________________________
Date____________________
Un-glaciated Appalachian Plateau
The Un-glaciated Appalachian Plateau makes up most of southeastern
Ohio. The hilly landscape is covered with trees, and the soil in this region is not
good for farming. This region has steep gorges, rivers, and waterfalls. Coal mining,
iron, clay, petroleum,
natural gas, and forestry
are important industries to
this region. Hocking Hills
State Park is located in this
region as well as Marietta.
(A photograph of the Ash Cave area at the Hocking Hills State Park in
Hocking Country, Ohio. Courtesy of Ohio Pix.)
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Activity 13.10: The Natural Regions of Ohio
Name____________________________
Date____________________
The Bluegrass Region
The Bluegrass Region, located in southern Ohio, is the smallest of all the
regions. The soil has limestone and shale and is good for farming. However, the
hilly terrain leads to problems with
erosion. Tobacco grows well in this
region. This region is also home to
wild turkeys, wood rats, salamanders,
and blue butterflies.
Due to the number of regions
(A picture of an Ohio turkey. Courtesy of Ohio Pix.)
with good soil, along with the forest and wildlife, Ohio has been a comfortable
place for people to live for the last 13,000 years.
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Activity 13.10: The Natural Regions of Ohio
Name____________________________
Date____________________
Reading Comprehension Questions
1. Which of the following does not grow in the Glaciated Appalachian
Plateau?
a. Grapes
b. Maple Syrup
c. Tomatoes
d. Wheat
2. The Lake Plain Region is located in _____________________ Ohio and
spreads from ______________________ southward.
3. A ____________________ is an area of high, flat land.
4. An area of low, flat land is known as the _________________________.
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Activity 13.10: The Natural Regions of Ohio