Mountains & Major Landforms PG6- I can identify the location of Earth's major landforms and bodies of water (i.e., Rockies, Andes, Himalayas, Alps, Urals, Sahara desert, Nile River Valley, Great Plains, Mississippi River, Amazon River, Thames River, Seine River, Rhine River, Danube River, Tigris River, Euphrates River, Ganges River, Volga River, Yellow River). Mountains The 2 major mountain ranges of the U.S. are the Rockies and the Appalachians (the ones outside our door). 1. The Appalachian Mountains are in the eastern U.S. Highest point 6,684 ft. Appalachian ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ United States Africa Asia Some of Mountain Ranges of the Appalachian Chain Appalachian Trail • The Appalachian Trail is famous for its many hikers, some of whom, called thru-hikers, attempt to hike it in its entirety in a single season. It is approximately 2,179 miles (3,507 km) long. Along the way, the trail passes through the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. 2. The Rocky Mountains are in the western U.S. and are the tallest mountains in North America. Rocky ^^^^ ^^^ ^ United States Africa Asia The Rockies are younger mountains, which is part of the reason they’re taller and rockier. The Appalachians are older, so erosion has helped to make them smaller. Rocky Appalachian Rockies 3. Mt. McKinley is the highest peak in North America. It is located in Alaska and is about 20,320 feet high. (The highest peak in the Appalachians is only 6684 feet.) 4. The Great Plains is the flat land in the middle of the U.S. It is good for farming and where most of our wheat and grains are grown. It is called the “breadbasket” of America. Great Plains United States Africa Asia Grain Harvesting in the GREAT PLAINS 5. Gulf Coastal Plains—land in southeastern U.S. (including West Tennessee) that is EXCELLENT for farming. Cotton and tobacco grow well here and make a lot of $ for the South. Tobacco Gulf Coastal Plain United States Africa Asia Cotton Cotton 6. Andes Mountains are the major range of South America. The longest mountain chain in the world. ^^ ^^ ^^ United States Africa Asia Andes Mountains 7. The Alps are in Southern Europe and separate Italy from the rest of Europe. United States Africa ^ ^ ^ ^ Asia The Alps 8. The Ural Mountains separate the continents of Europe and Asia. EUROPE ASIA United States Africa ^^ ^ Europe ASIA 9. Himalayan Mountains are the tallest mountain range in the world! They are in southern Asia. Africa United States ^^^^^ 10. Mt. Everest is the highest mountain peak in the world at over 29,000 feet above sea level. It is in the Himalayas. Mt. Everest 11. The Sahara Desert is the largest desert in the world! It is in northern Africa. Sahara Desert Africa United States Sahara Desert