Download Climates of US Handout

U.S. History
Name _____________________
Unit 1 Geography in American History
The Physical Geography of the United States
I.
II.
Overview – The Physical Regions of the United States. Underline key terms as they
are pointed out and discussed on the overhead transparency.
1.
The Pacific Coast – This mountainous region contains three great mountain systems: the
Alaska Range, the Cascades, and the Sierra Nevada’s. The highest peaks in the U.S. are
found here (Mt. McKinley – 20,320 ft is the highest).
2.
Intermountain Basins and Plateaus – This region is divided into the Columbia Plateau, the
Colorado Plateau and the Basin and Range Province, it is a system of plateaus, basins,
ranges and gorges between the Rocky and Pacific Mountain Systems. It is the setting for the
Grand Canyon, the Great Basin and Death Valley (hottest ever temperature recorded in U.S. 134 degrees Fahrenheit in July 1913).
3.
Rocky Mountains – The Rocky Mountains stretch more than 3,000 miles from northernmost
British Columbia, in Canada, to New Mexico, in the United States. The range's highest peak is
Mount Elbert in Colorado at 14,440 feet (4,401 meters) above sea level.
4.
Interior Plains – Part of the interior continental United States, it includes much of what is
called the Great Plains and the Central Lowlands. This region is commonly called the “Bread
Basket” of the United States because of the amount of grain crops produced here each year.
5.
Appalachian Mountains – The oldest mountain system in the in the United States. It runs
from Maine to northern Georgia and Alabama. Mt. Mitchell, North Carolina at 6,684 ft is the
highest peak, but most mountains are between 2,000 and 4,000 ft. high.
6.
Coastal Plains – These are the flat, low lying coastal regions of the eastern and southern
parts of the United States that includes the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf Coast.
7.
Canadian Shield – Also called the Laurentian Upland, they extend into the northern United
States Great Lakes area. The Shield is one of the world's richest areas in terms of mineral
ores. It is filled with substantial deposits of nickel, gold, silver, and copper.
8.
Hawaii – The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of 19 islands and atolls, numerous smaller
islets, in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles comprise a total of 137 islands
and atolls, with a total land area of 6,423.4 square miles. Many of these islands are volcanic
and are still being formed today.
Overview – Climate Regions of the United States. Answer the following as you
examine the map of U.S. Climate Regions on the overhead.
1. Name the climate zones shown on the map.
2. Which two U.S. states contain tropical climate zones?
3. What is the only state with an arctic and subarctic climate?
4. What type of climate does Kentucky have?
5. What type of climate is found in the Southeastern U.S.?
6. What U.S. states have a marine west-coast climate?
7. What U.S. states contain deserts?
8. What mountain ranges are indicated on the map by highland climate zones?