Bodies of water

Bodies of Water

In the United States

Click on the slides to move through them. Some will have actions, and others will have further instruction!

There is a lot of WaterThere are many bodies of water in the United States. It would take us a long time to sail through each of them, so we are going to take this opportunity to focus on some important ones. Bodies of water can include lakes, rivers, and oceans. Water is one of our natural resources. Currently our country and others are looking for ways that we can consume less water.To have healthy bodies we need to drink water everyday! This will increase your bodies health and help during physical activity.On a scientific note: water is a great conductor!

Can you think of any lakes, rivers, or oceans that you may have visited?

Meet Samson!

This is Samson. He is a penguin and he will be our tour guide today!Whenever you see him know that there is something he wants to tell you or help you with.

My advice- pay close attention or you may just miss him!

RiversRiver’s are natural water courses, usually made up of fresh water.The flow towards oceans, lakes, and seas. Sometimes they are gentle and calm. Other times they are rough and dangerous. They can be used for transportation, sources of water, hydropower and disposing of waste.

The Colorado River

This River passes through our own

State and even travels through 6others, as well as 2 in Mexico.It is 1450 miles long.Part of it even has some hotsprings!

This is a Horseshoe Bend, a canyon and part of the Colorado River in Arizona.

The Mississippi River

This is an aerial view of part of the Mississippi River!

In the book ‘Tom Sawyer’ by Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer has an adventure on this River.

It is the largest river system in North America!

The Arkansas RiverThe Arkansas River can also be found flowing through Colorado and other states.It begins in the Rocky Mountains and its mouth is in Arkansas

You can see the contrast as it flows through the country and cities! Would you recognize these 2 pictures as being the same body of water?

I hope you guys learned something about a few of the many rivers in the United States. Now I want to show you all the Great Lakes!

The Great LakesThe Great Lakes are a chain of 5 Lakes that touch in the United States and Canada. The total shoreline is nearly 10,000 miles long.The Great Lakes provide drinking water for more than 40 million people.350 different species of fish reside in the Great Lakes.

Lake Superior

This is the largest of the 5 Great Lakes.It is shared by Ontario, Canada and Minnesota. 200 rivers flow into Lake Superior.The Ojibwe call the lake ‘Gichigami’, which means “Big Water”!

Winter&

Summer

Lake HuronLake Huron is bound between Ontario, Canada and Michigan.French explorers named it Huron after people who inhabited its region.There are beaches that surround the lake!

Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake that is located entirely in the United States.The surface area is just slightly smaller than West Virginia.It travels through Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.Some of the earliest inhabitants were the Hopewell Indians. Chicago Skyline & Lake Michigan

White Shoal Light House, Michigan

Lake ErieLake Erie is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the 5 Great Lakes.It is named after the Erie Tribe of Native Americans who lived along its shoreline.Its outflow provides hydroelectric power to Canada and the United States as it spins huge turbines at Niagara Falls

Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario is bound by Ontario, Canada and New York.It means “Lake of Shining Waters” in Huron.It serves as the outlet to the Atlantic Ocean.Because of the sea level and its depths it doesn’t freeze in winter.

Difference in Climates

Aren’t the Great Lakes wonderful and unique? The last water system I want to take each of you to is my personal favorite- the ocean!(I was, after all, raised there!)

Oceans

An ocean is a major body of salt water.Approximately 71% of the earth’s surface is covered by oceans.And we all know that exciting and interesting creatures live in the ocean!

Arctic Ocean

The Arctic is located in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the smallest and shallowest of the 5 oceanic divisions. The Arctic is partially covered by sea

ice throughout the year! Brrr…

Atlantic Ocean

The big blue part in the middle is the Atlantic Ocean. It touches the east coast of the United States. It is the

second largest ocean. It covers approximately 20% of Earth’s surface.

Pacific OceanAs you can see the pacific ocean is

the largest oceanic division. It touches the west coast of the United

States. It covers about 46% of the Earth’s surface

What will you find?

There are lots of cool creatures in the sea. See if you can figure out what these ones are!

What can you do?There are many things we can do in the lake and sea. Can you name a few you would like to do or have done?

Wakeboarding:

Fishing:

Swimming and Snorkeling:

Scuba Diving:

Sailing:

Of the 3 rivers we just reviewed, which one is the largest river system in North America?

The Colorado River

The Mississippi River

The Arkansas River

Click on Samson for the Answer!

The Mississippi River

Great Work!

Of the 5 Great Lakes, which one is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by

volume?

Lake Superior

Lake Huron

Lake Michigan

Lake Erie

Lake Ontario

Click on Samson for the Answer!

Lake Erie

One More Question!

Of the three oceans in the United States, which one is the largest oceanic

division?

Pacific Ocean

Arctic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

Click on Samson for the Answer!

The Pacific Ocean

Way To Go Everyone!

Take a quiz!

Click on this picture to take a quiz! It is just for fun! Don’t worry about your score- I just want you to try. Write down the facts you think are

cool from the quiz!

The EndThanks for sticking with me for the journey! I hope that each of you learned something about the water systems in the United States. Feel free to direct any further questions to Miss Harris. Hopefully each of you will have the chance to get to some of these places. Have a fabulous day!