Northeast Region Chapter 5 Notes

Lesson 1: Along the Atlantic Coast

  • The Northeast is divided into two sub-regions: The Mid-Atlantic and New England
  • The Atlantic Coastal Plain is along the Atlantic Coast and contains flat land with many harbors along it.
  • These harbors allow a lot of trade to happen and our economy to grow.
  • A bay is a part of an ocean or a lake that cuts deeply into the land. The Delaware Bay cuts between New Jersey and Delaware.
  • The Appalachian Mountainsare a long chain of mountains that run through the Northeast and down into the Southeast.
  • The Appalachian Mountains are made up of a group of smaller mountain ranges including the Green Mountains, White Mountains, Catskill Mountains, and Allegheny Mountains.
  • Thousands of years ago, the Northeast Region was covered by glaciers, which are huge sheets of ice that slowly move across the land. These glaciers moved over some of the Appalachian Mountains and carried tons of rock and soil away from the land. This made the mountains lower and rounder.
  • The Appalachian Trail stretches from Georgia to Maine. This is the longest trail in the world.
  • The fall line is where the Atlantic Coastal Plain meets the Appalachian Mountains. The hard rock of the mountains meets the soft rock of the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
  • There are many trees in the Northeast Region because we live near the Atlantic Ocean and have lots of precipitation. This supports healthy tree growth.
  • Broadleaf is a type of leaf that is wide, changes color in the autumn, and falls off the trees when the temperature drops. These come from trees such as hickories, oaks, and maples.
  • Needleleaf is a type of leaf that is long and thin, they do not change color in the autumn, and they do not fall off the tree when the temperature drops. These come from trees such as pine, fir, and spruce.

Lesson 2: A Colorful Environment

  • The Northeast Region is able to have four seasons because of the tilt of the Earth. When the Earth is tilted towards the sun, it is summer. When the Earth is tilted away from the sun, it is winter.
  • Foliage is another word for leaves. As the temperature drops, the green pigment is not made any more in the leaves and other colors, such as red and orange, show through the leaves. After a few weeks, the leaves fall off the branches.
  • The main natural resources in the Northeast are soil, water, trees, and rock and stone.
  • Soil is used to plant crops. Soil is best in the Mid-Atlantic States and that’s where most crops are grown. The soil in the New England states are rockier and therefore, farmers raise animals such as dairy cows and chickens.
  • Trees are used to make pencils and paper and also use the wood to make things such as furniture.
  • Water is used to water crops, drink, clean, and cook. Water is abundant in this area because of the Atlantic Ocean and many lakes and springs.
  • Rock and Stone come from quarries where the stone is blasted out. Granite is found abundantly in this region.

Lesson 3: Seaways and Cities

  • The St. Lawrence Seaway made it possible for ships to get from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes.
  • Many canals were made along the St. Lawrence River. A canal is a waterway dug across the land, which made it easier for ships to travel along the rivers.
  • Locks helped ships move from one level of a river to another. Locks are a part of a canal and are closed off by gates.
  • Buildings, highways, bridges, and tunnels were constructed as cities grew in the Northeast.
  • Some of the major cities in the Northeast include Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C.
  • Suburbs are communities located around a city. New Providence is a suburb.
  • Urban areas are another word for a city.
  • Metropolitan areas are the urban area and the suburbs surrounding it.
  • Transportation allowed people to be able to live in a suburb and commute to work in the morning.