Contiguous Joined Together Inside a Common Boundary

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