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Download Geographical Features of Mississippi
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Geographical Features of Mississippi Mississippi’s Geographic Regions 4 Broad Geographical Regions Delta (northwest MS) The Hills (central & north MS) Piney Woods (southern MS) Gulf Coast (narrow strip bordering the Gulf of Mexico) Natural Environment Climate – long term average of weather conditions Humid subtropical Temperature – normal annual temperature is 62° Fahrenheit Only Florida 70° F, Louisiana 66° F, and Texas 64° F have higher averages. During winter, January and February are the coldest months. Northern half of the state avg. temperatures: 43° F – 48° F Southern half of the state avg. temperatures: 48° F - 53° F Coastal counties of the state average fewer than 20 days a year under 32° F During summer, July and August are the hottest months. The average summer temperature is 81° F Why are average temperatures on the coast higher than the rest of the state during the winter? Why Are temperatures rising? What is global warming? Has there ever been climate change before? What about the ice age? Natural Environment Precipitation – rain, snow, sleet, hail Average annual precipitation is 52 inches Coastal counties receive about 60 inches per year while northern parts of the state receive about 50 inches. Seasonal breakdown – rainfall is rather evenly distributed throughout the year Winter – 15.26 inches Spring – 14.86 inches Summer – 13.44 inches Fall – 9.3 inches Natural Environment Natural Hazards Our state experiences various types of natural hazards such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail storms, hurricanes, gales and high winds, short droughts, lightning, and floods. Tornadoes- generally occur during the spring and early summer when warm moist air moving northward from the Gulf of Mexico meets colder air coming from the interior of the United States Hurricanes – generally arise in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and cover hundreds of square miles. A storm becomes a hurricane when its winds measure more than 74 miles per hour. Water Resources Surface Water – refers to the water in lakes, ponds, rivers, and the ocean. Mississippi surface water is primarily used for irrigation and electric power generation. It is a major resource for industries, particularly the paper industry. Ground water – seeps below the Earth’s surface into the spaces and cracks in the rocks. Water Resources Rivers The Mississippi River The Mississippi River forms most of the western border of the state. The river and its tributaries drain the interior United States from the Appalachian Mountains in the east to the Rocky Mountains in the West. Water Resources There are nine major river systems in our state Drain to the west (Mississippi River) 1. Yazoo River 2. Big Black River 3. Bayou Pierre-Coles Creek 4. Homochitto River Drain to the south 5. Noxubee-Tombigbee Rivers 6. Pearl River 7. Amite River 8. Pascagoula River 9. Wolf-Jordan Rivers Landform Regions Landforms – physiographic divisions Mississippi is divided up into 10 distinct landform regions Landform Regions Tombigbee Hills • • • Northeast corner of the state Average elevation of 650 ft. Mush of the land is mixed forests with areas of pasture and cropland Landform Regions The Black Prairie • Gets its name from the dark color of the soil which is very rich and fertile • 20-25 miles wide and generally flat to gently rolling • Was once an important cotton growing area • Cotton is still grown here but has largely been replaced with soybeans and cattle Landform Regions Pontotoc Ridge • West of Black Prarie • Elevation ranges from 400-600 ft. • Area divides the TennesseeTombigbee river basins to the east and Mississippi River basin to the west Landform Regions Flatwoods • West of the Pontotoc Ridge • Narrow (12 miles wide) • Poor drainage with mainly clay soil that is not good for agriculture • Some cropland and cattle production Landform Regions North Central Hills • Averages 400 – 600 ft. above sea level • Covered with shortleaf pine trees and some hardwoods • Various types of agriculture • Intermixed areas of pasture, hayfields, and some croplands • Cattle and poultry production Landform Regions Loess Hills • • • • • Loess is buff-colored silt believed to have been transported by wind Some deposits are 90 ft. deep Western border drops off sharply into the Delta region Mixed pasture and forests Soybeans and cattle Landform Regions Yazoo Basin (Delta) • Appears flat but slopes gently from the northern part of the region to the south • Artificial levees made to control rivers • Very fertile soil • Most extensive & productive agricultural area of the state • Cotton, soybeans, rice, wheat, corn, and catfish • Birthplace of blues music Landform Regions Jackson Prairie • Relatively flat • Large deposits of limestone and clay beneath the soil • Limestone supports the concrete industry • Mixed pastures, pine plantations, forests, and cattle production Landform Regions Pine Hills • • • Mostly rolling hills with some high ridges dividing rivers Not a major agricultural area Significant cattle and poultry production Landform Regions Coastal Meadows • • • • Relatively flat with a slight upslope away from the Gulf of Mexico Very little agriculture Some pasture and cropland mixed with forest and wetlands Seafood industry http://trails.mdah.ms.gov/default.aspx
