U.S. Geography, Government, Economy, and Environmental Issues

What are the natural resources of the United States?

The United States has enormous amounts and varieties of natural resources and fertile croplands.

Name the ten regions of the United States.

Pacific Mt. Range, Appalachian Mt & plateaus, Great Basin, Central Plains, Rocky Mt., Coastal Plains, Great Plains, Hawaii, Piedmont, Alaska.

Where do the Great Plains begin and end?

The Great Plains begin near the ninety-eighth meridian and stretch to the base of the Rocky Mountains.

What is the altitude range of the Great Plains?

The altitude rises from about 1,000 feet in the east to about 5,000 feet in the west.

What geographical features are found in the Central Plains?

The Central Plains contain fertile rolling hills, forests, and prairies.

What major water bodies provide transportation routes in the Central Plains?

The Mississippi River, its tributaries, and the Great Lakes.

What is the significance of the Appalachian Mountains?

They extend from eastern Canada to northern Alabama and form the Eastern Continental Divide.

What happens to waters flowing from the eastern side of the Appalachian Mountains?

They empty into the Atlantic Ocean.

What is the Piedmont region?

The Piedmont lies west of the Coastal Plains and forms the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

What are the Coastal Plains?

The sandy plains along the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

How is Alaska geographically separated from the lower 48 states?

Alaska is separated from the lower 48 by Canada.

What geological processes have shaped current landforms in the U.S.?

Wind, water, and glacial activity through erosion.

What is an aquifer?

An underground layer of water-bearing rock or sediment from which groundwater can be extracted.

What is the longest river in the United States?

The Missouri River, flowing about 2,340 miles from Montana to the Gulf of Mexico.

What is the general direction of prevailing wind patterns in the central United States?

They generally move from west to east.

What climatic influences affect the eastern United States?

The northern half is influenced by westerly air flow and cold winds from Canada, resulting in a cool, humid climate.

What is lake-effect snow?

Snow that occurs in states around the Great Lakes due to their influence on weather patterns.

What role does Gulf air play in southern weather?

Warm, moist Gulf air can contribute to thunderstorms and tornadoes.

What type of government does the United States have?

The United States functions as a federal republic.

What does the Tenth Amendment state?

It reserves powers not delegated to the national government to the individual states.

What rights does the Declaration of Independence proclaim?

The rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

What percentage of U.S. GDP did agriculture account for in 2017?

About 0.9%.

What has caused the decline of manufacturing in the Manufacturing Belt?

Companies moving to the Sunbelt in the South and Southwest.

What is clear-cutting?

The total removal of all trees in a given area.

What is eutrophication?

An increase of nutrients in a lake or stream.

What are invasive species?

Plants or animals brought into an area where they are not native and that cause harm.

How can recycling impact the environment?

Reducing waste through recycling can lessen human impact on the environment.