Geographic Regions of North America

Geographic Regions of North America. This covers Virginia SOL USI.2b. The student will use maps, globes, photographs, pictures, or tables to
b) locate and describe the location of the geographic regions of North America: Coastal Plain, Appalachian Mountains, Canadian Shield, Interior Lowlands, Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, Basin and Range, and Coastal Range.

1. Geographic Regions of North Geographic Regions of North
AmericaAmerica
Remember: North America is a continent. United States is a country!

2. PurposePurpose

Understand that geographic regions have Understand that geographic regions have
distinctive characteristics.distinctive characteristics.

Identify the geographic regions of North Identify the geographic regions of North
America, and describe the physical America, and describe the physical
characteristics of each region.characteristics of each region.

3. What You NEED To KnowWhat You NEED To Know

Where are the regions Where are the regions
located? (Locate them on a located? (Locate them on a
map)map)

What are some physical What are some physical
characteristics of the characteristics of the
geographic regions of geographic regions of
North America? (What North America? (What
does each region does each region looklook
like?)like?)

4. Remember the Regions!Remember the Regions!
CCanan
AAllll
IIntelligentntelligent
GGirlsirls
RReadead
BBooksooks
CCorrectly orrectly
This mnemonic device helps you remember the regions in order from west to east.
NEVER FORGET THE
CANADIAN SHIELD!

5. Coastal PlainCoastal Plain

Located along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Located along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf
of Mexicoof Mexico

Broad lowlands providing many excellent Broad lowlands providing many excellent
harborsharbors
Coastal Plain
is highlighted
in red.

6. Coastal Plain PicturesCoastal Plain Pictures
Baltimore, MD harbor (see the boats!)

7. Appalachian HighlandsAppalachian Highlands

Located west of the Coastal Plain, Located west of the Coastal Plain,
extending from eastern Canada to extending from eastern Canada to
western Alabama; includes the Piedmontwestern Alabama; includes the Piedmont

Old, eroded mountains (oldest mountain Old, eroded mountains (oldest mountain
range in North America)range in North America)
Appalachian
Highland
region
highlighted in
red

8. Appalachian Highland PicturesAppalachian Highland Pictures
Notice the tops of these mountains. They are rounded, which means the are
old and eroded; new mountains come to a point.
How can mountains be new or old? It has to do when the earth’s tectonic plates and when they collide. Want to understand more?
Ask Mr. Hunt about tectonic plates!

9. Canadian ShieldCanadian Shield

Wrapped around the Hudson Bay in a Wrapped around the Hudson Bay in a
horseshoe shapehorseshoe shape

Hills worn by erosion and hundreds of Hills worn by erosion and hundreds of
lakes carved by glacierslakes carved by glaciers
Canadian Shield
region highlighted
in red

10. Canadian Shield PicturesCanadian Shield Pictures

11. Interior LowlandsInterior Lowlands

Located west of the Appalachian Located west of the Appalachian
Mountains and east of the Great PlainsMountains and east of the Great Plains

Rolling flatlands with many rivers, broad Rolling flatlands with many rivers, broad
river valleys, and grassy hillsriver valleys, and grassy hills
Interior Lowlands
region highlighted
in red

12. Interior Lowland PicturesInterior Lowland Pictures

13. Great PlainsGreat Plains

Located west of the Interior Lowlands and Located west of the Interior Lowlands and
east of the Rocky Mountainseast of the Rocky Mountains

Flat lands that gradually increase in Flat lands that gradually increase in
elevation westward; grasslandselevation westward; grasslands
Great Plains region
highlighted in red

14. Great Plain PicturesGreat Plain Pictures

15. Rocky MountainsRocky Mountains

Located west of the Great Plains and east of the Located west of the Great Plains and east of the
Basin and RangeBasin and Range

Rugged mountains stretching from Alaska Rugged mountains stretching from Alaska
almost to Mexico; high elevationsalmost to Mexico; high elevations

Contains the Continental Divide, which Contains the Continental Divide, which
determines the directional flow of riversdetermines the directional flow of rivers
Rocky Mountains
region highlighted in
red

16. Rocky Mountain PicturesRocky Mountain Pictures

17. Basin and RangeBasin and Range

Located west of the Rocky Mountains and east Located west of the Rocky Mountains and east
of the Sierra Nevadas and the Cascadesof the Sierra Nevadas and the Cascades

Varying elevations containing isolated mountain Varying elevations containing isolated mountain
ranges and Death Valley, the lowest point in ranges and Death Valley, the lowest point in
North AmericaNorth America
Basin and
Range region
highlighted in
red

18. Basin and Range PicturesBasin and Range Pictures
Death Valley

19. Coastal RangeCoastal Range

Located along the Pacific Coast, Located along the Pacific Coast,
stretching from California to Canadastretching from California to Canada

Rugged mountains and fertile valleysRugged mountains and fertile valleys
Coastal Range
region highlighted in
red

20. Coastal Range PicturesCoastal Range Pictures

21. Help Yourself Study!Help Yourself Study!

If you see a blank map of the regions, you need If you see a blank map of the regions, you need
to be able to label each region.to be able to label each region.

If you are given a description of a region, you If you are given a description of a region, you
need to be able to know which region is being need to be able to know which region is being
described.described.

If you see a picture of a region, you need to be If you see a picture of a region, you need to be
able to identify the region.able to identify the region.

On the SOL Test, there will be 9 questions on On the SOL Test, there will be 9 questions on
this information.this information.