Climate and

Physical Geography

of the United

States

Landforms and Resources

• The United States ranks 3rd in the world for largest land mass. (1st: Russia, 2nd: Canada)

• It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, and from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.

• The US has very fertile soil, large supplies of fresh water, large mineral deposits and forest areas.

Eastern Lowlands

• Atlantic Coastal Plain – Along Eastern coast from

northeastern corner to Florida.

• Gulf Coastal Plain– Along the Gulf of Mexico,

along the coasts of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.

Appalachian Highlands

• Appalachian Mountains– West of the coastal plain– Extend 1600 miles from

Newfoundland to Alabama

– More than 400 million years old

– Includes the Green, Catskill, Blue Ridge, and Great Smoky Mountains

Great Smoky Mountains

Green Mountains in Vermont