EQ: Where are 8 of the important physical features &
landforms of the United States located?
 A flat area of land of the coast of the Atlantic
Ocean from southern New York to Florida
 Less than 200 meters above sea level on
average
 Goes inland for between 50-100 kilometers
 Generally good for growing crops
Atlantic
Coastal Plains
 Flows southwest to northeast through North
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America
A river that connects the Great Lakes to the
Atlantic Ocean
Serves as part of the border between Canada
and the United States
Explored by John Cabot and Jacques Cartier
Named by Jacques Cartier after he sailed it
St. Lawrence
River
Atlantic
Coastal Plains
 A collection of 5 freshwater lakes on the United
States-Canada border
 Largest surface area formation of freshwater lakes
in the world
 Hold 21% of the world’s freshwater
 Are connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the St.
Lawrence River
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5
2
4
1
Great Lakes
St. Lawrence
River
Atlantic
Coastal Plains
 Ocean basin surrounded by FL, GA, AL, MS,
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LA, and TX
Part of the Atlantic Ocean
About half of it (light blue) is shallow water on
the Continental Shelf
Is about 4,300 meters deep at its deepest
First European to explore it was Amerigo
Vespucci in 1497
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5
2
4
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Great Lakes
St. Lawrence
River
Atlantic
Coastal Plains
Gulf of
Mexico
 A large area of flat land made up mainly of
grasslands and prairies
 Located west of the Mississippi River and
East of the Rocky Mountains
 Cover Montana, Nebraska, Colorado, North
and South Dakota, Kansas, Wyoming,
Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico
 Also reach into Canada
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5
2
4
1
Great Lakes
Great
Plains
St. Lawrence
River
Atlantic
Coastal Plains
Gulf of
Mexico
 Imaginary boundary that separates
waters that flow into the Atlantic Ocean
& Gulf of Mexico from those that flow
into the Pacific Ocean
 Runs northwest to southeast from
Alaska to northern South America
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Continental
Divide
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2
4
1
Great Lakes
Great
Plains
St. Lawrence
River
Atlantic
Coastal Plains
Gulf of
Mexico
 An area covering most of Nevada and also
some of the surrounding states of Oregon,
Utah, and California where water is trapped
 Because it is so hot, water evaporates here or
soaks in to the ground
 Is usually a warm, dry area but occasionally
gets snow
Visit the following website for more information:
http://www.nps.gov/grba/index.htm
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Continental
Divide
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2
4
1
Great Lakes
Great
Plains
St. Lawrence
River
Great Basin
Atlantic
Coastal Plains
Gulf of
Mexico
 Lowest, hottest, driest location in the United States
 Valley located in the Mojave Desert and Great Basin in
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eastern California
Almost 300 feet below sea level
Is so hot because the sun heats the ground and the
heat is trapped by the surrounding elevations as it rises
Hottest recorded temperature is 134˚F
Coolest recorded temperature is 15˚F
Visit website below for more information
http://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm
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Continental
Divide
5
2
4
1
Great Lakes
Great
Plains
St. Lawrence
River
Great Basin
Death
Valley
Atlantic
Coastal Plains
Gulf of
Mexico