Chapter 4 section 1
Contiguous – joined together inside a common boundary
Coastal Plains – broad lowlands along the eastern & southeastern coast
Atlantic Coastal Plain – poor soil & many port cities
Megalopolis – a number of cities & suburbs that form a continuous
line of settlement; New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore &
Washington D.C.
Gulf Coastal Plain – better soils than Atlantic Coastal Plain
The Appalachian Mountains – run from eastern Canada to Alabama
The oldest mountains on the continent – they have been worn down
over time by erosion
Interior Plains – 2 parts
Central Plains – east of Mississippi River – rolling hills and flatlands –
fertile & productive land.
Great Lakes are found here. Many ports located in the Great Lakes
because of St. Lawrence Seaway.
Great Plains – west of Mississippi River to Rocky Mountains; northern
border into Canada south to the Mexican border. Contain vast grain fields.
Mountains & Plateaus – Rocky Mountains stretch from Alaska to Mexico.
Continental divide – the ridge that separates the rivers of the continent
Plateaus, canyons & deserts exist between the Rockies & the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Coast – 2 mountain ranges near the coast
Cascade Range – Washington to Northern California
Sierra Nevada – run along California’s eastern side
Fertile valleys along the coast
Alaska – Mountain ranges cover much of Alaska. The people mostly live
along the southern coast & central river valley
Hawaii – 8 large islands; 120 other islands; formed from volcanoes
A variety of climates in The United States. Mostly mid-latitude climates.
Humid continental; humid subtropical; marine west coast; steppe; high
latitude; tropical