Download Mount McKinley (Denali)

Geography of the United States
• Two major mountain
ranges
• Appalachians
• Rockies
• Highest mountain in
North America?
• Mount McKinley
(Denali) in Alaska
• 20,320 feet
• Coastal ranges?
• Cascades
• Sierra Nevada
• Means “snowy
mountains”
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Rain Shadow
• Coastal mountains keep
moisture from reaching
interior areas
• Highest peaks in U.S.
mountain ranges:
• Mount Rainier
(14,410 feet) in
Cascade Range
• Mount Whitney
(14,494 feet) in the
Sierra Nevada
• Mount Mitchell
(6,684 feet) in
Appalachians
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The Mighty Mississippi
• Many tributaries:
• Missouri
• Ohio
• Platte
• Red
• Tennessee
• Arkansas
• 3rd (or 4th) longest river
in the world
• Behind Nile,
Amazon (and
Yangtze)
• Used for both irrigation
and transportation
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Agriculture
• Different crops in different
regions/climates:
• Corn
• Wheat
• Soybeans
• Cotton
• Tobacco
• Rice
• Fruits
• Farmers < 2 % of work force,
but produce huge surpluses
• Livestock raising and dairy
products are also important
agricultural industries
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Industry
• US – world leader in technology
& manufacturing
• Computers
• Iron & steel
• Military & transportation
equipment
• Electronics
• Textiles
• Chemicals
• Paper & lumber
• Food products
• Vast natural resources
• Iron ore, coal, oil, natural gas
and trees (nonrenewable?)
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Climates
• Most areas have humid
continental climate
• Hot summers
• Cold winters
• Southeast = humid
subtropical climate
• Milder winters
• Hot & humid summers
• Summer brings violent
thunderstorms,
hurricanes & tornadoes
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Pacific Northwest = marine west coast climate
• Mild temperatures
• Lots of rain
• Southern California =
Mediterranean
• Dry, warm summers
• Mild, rainy winters
• Alaska = subarctic
• Cool summers
• Freezing winters
• Hawaii = tropical
• Heavy rainfall
• Warm temperatures
• Pacific breezes
• 70s all year
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• US – 4th largest country
in the world in area
• Behind Russia,
Canada, and China
• 3rd largest in population
• More than 300
million people
• Behind China & India
• Five largest cities:
• New York
• Los Angeles
• Chicago
• Houston
• Philadelphia
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