Coast to Coast Landforms
Stretching 1,600 miles from Newfoundland down to Alabama, this ancient mountain chain is found in the eastern U.S. and Canada.
What are the Appalachian Mountains?
It is the nickname given to the central Great Plains region where cold Canadian air meets warm Gulf air to spawn frequent violent twisters.
What is Tornado Alley?
It's the official job title for a person whose career is dedicated to designing and drawing maps.
What is a cartographer?
Snaking across nearly the entire length of the United States, it is part of North America's longest and busiest river system.
What is the Mississippi River?
It's a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land masses, like Central America connecting North and South America.
What is an isthmus?
Extending 3,000 miles from Alaska to New Mexico, this massive western range boasts peaks over 12,000 feet high.
What are the Rocky Mountains?
Found beneath the surface in subarctic and tundra regions, it is the geographic term for soil or ground that stays frozen year-round.
What is permafrost?
You'll want to pull out this specific type of map if you need to study precise physical terrain and changes in elevation.
What is a topographic map?
Holding the title of Canada's longest river, this waterway drains a vast portion of the northern wilderness.
What is the Mackenzie River?
Florida and Baja California are classic examples of this landform, which is surrounded by water on three sides.
What is a peninsula?
This line of highest points in the Rockies decides whether North American river water flows east toward the Atlantic or west toward the Pacific.
What is the Continental Divide?
California's central and southern coasts enjoy dry, sunny summers and mild, rainy winters thanks to this sunny Mediterranean-style climate zone.
What is a Mediterranean climate?
Running through Greenwich, England, this imaginary line sits at 0 degrees longitude
What is the Prime Meridian?
Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior make up this famous North American group of freshwater giants.
What are the Great Lakes?
The gradual process of wind, water, and ice wearing away rock and topsoil over time.
What is erosion?
If you are surrounding Hudson Bay, you are standing on this massive, flat, and rocky region that covers nearly two million square miles.
What is the Canadian Shield?
The Pacific coast gets hit with rain and fog thanks to Pacific ocean currents, coastal mountains, and these west-to-east middle-latitude winds.
What are the prevailing westerlies?
These horizontal lines run east-west around the globe, measuring distance north or south of the Equator.
What are lines of latitude (or parallels)?
This dynamic water environment occurs right where a river meets the ocean, causing fresh river water to mix with salty sea water.
What is an estuary?
Smaller streams or secondary rivers that flow into and feed a larger river are known by this term.
What are tributaries?
Located in the central Pacific about 2,400 miles southwest of the mainland, this island chain is one of two volcanic island groups in the U.S.
What are the Hawaiian Islands?
If you want a tropical climate in the U.S., you'll have to pack your bags for Hawaii or the southern portion of this state.
What is Florida?
Navigation equipment relies on this handy tool to show cardinal directions like North, South, East, and West.
What is a compass?
Norway is famous for these dramatic, narrow sea inlets flanked by steep, towering cliffs.
What is a fjord?
When a river dumps nutrient-rich sediment as it hits a larger body of water, it often creates this triangular, fertile landform.
What is a delta?