Missouri GeographyMissouri Unit

LocationRelative and Absolute LocationRelative - General description of a location.Absolute - Exact Location using latitude and longitudeLatitude lines measuring North and South from the Equator.Longitude lines measuring East and West from the Prime Meridian.

5 Themes of GeographyLocationPlaceHuman and Environment InteractionMovementRegions

LocationDescription of a place using Absolute or Relative Location.Example your houseThe SchoolDescribe the location for Relative.Give Lat and Long to describe Absolute.

PlaceDescribe somewhere using Physical or human characteristics.Physical - naturally occurring ex. MountainsHuman - man made ex. Roads and bridges.

Human and Environment InteractionInteraction between humans and their environment.Question?Do we adapt to our environment or do we adapt our environment to us?Anyone cold?

MovementMovement of goods, services, ideas, and people throughout the worldExamplesPlanes, Trains, and Automobiles.New Movements?

RegionAreas with similar characteristics.Not restricted by their proximity to each other.Deserts, Tundra, Plains, etc...

Regions of MissouriGlaciated PlainsOsage PlainsMississippi Alluvial PlainsOzark Plateau

Glaciated PlainsNorthern part of Missouri.Once covered in glaciers during the Ice Age.Melted and left very fertile soil.Farming and Agriculture.

Osage PlainsEastern extension of the Great PlainsSoil is dryer and rockier.Some agriculture, but not nearly as fertile as the Glaciated Plains.

Mississippi Alluvial PlainsBootheel used to be covered in swamps and wetlands.The state and farmers have built levees and canals that allow the water flow to be controlled.This allows farming of the rich soil.Tobacco, rice, and cotton

Ozark PlateauOld worn down mountains.Along with the Appalachian Mountains they are the oldest in the country.Most of the central and south west portion of the state.Mt. Taum Sauk in St. Francois County 1772 Ft.

GeologyMost of MO is made up of Igneous Rock - or liquid that cooled and was compressed until it formed rock.Granite and RhyliteMuch of the rock runs 4000 ft. under the surface.Rivers both above and under ground have eroded this rock.

CavesMissouri has over 3000 caves.Stalactites - Long icicle like formations forming from the top of a cave.Stalagmites Long icicle like formations from the bottom of a cave.Both caused by water dripping and combining with minerals.

Plotting Latitude and LongitudeAll Latitude and Longitude are measured in Degrees - Minutes - Seconds60 Seconds = 1 Minute60 Minutes = 1 DegreeMax of 180 Degrees E,W,N, &S

Convert90 71 80 W91 12 20 W

120 119 61122 1

Plot39 degrees North 76 degrees West.Washington DC33 degrees North, 117 Degrees WestSan Diego

New Madrid EarthquakeDecember 1811The New Madrid Fault awakened and began a series of earthquakes and tremors that lasted 3 MonthsFelt in Boston, MA and Toronto, Ontario, CN.

EarthquakePlates rub along each other creating ground movements.The Mississippi River ran BACKWARDS for a time after the earthquake.The water level raised 12 ft in minutes.Huge waves destroyed whole town like Caruthersville, MONo Deaths!

ClimateAverage weather over a measured period of time.Continental Humid - The weather is variable based on the seasons.TransitionsWinter - Cold/Wet = SnowfallWinter - Cold/DrySummer - Hot/DrySummer - Hot/Wet

BordersMO covers 70,000 sq. miles.Both natural and manmade borders.Major natural bordersMO RiverMS RiverSt. Francois River

BordersManmade4030 N36 N36 30 N Bootheel

WaterwaysAquifer - Underground H20 system filters through rock and soil used for manmade wellsPollution - Runoff from fertilizers can pollute the aquifersRivers - 11,000 miles of streams and riversBordersWhat else can rivers be used for.

Water...LakesMO does not have any natural large lakes.Created by damming rivers.TaneycomoBull ShoalsSmithvilleL of OTable RockMark Twain