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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