Rivers and Mountains Flash Cards

Great Lakes

Inland port cities grew along the Midwest thanks to this waterway.

Atlantic Ocean

served as the highway for explorers, early settlers, and later immigrants

Ohio River

Gateway to the west

Mississippi and Missouri River

Used to transport farm and industrial products

Rio Grande

river that forms the border between Texas and Mexico

Columbia River

Explored by Lewis and Clark and empties into the Pacific Ocean

St. Lawrence River

forms part of the northeastern border with Canada and connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean

Gulf of Mexico

Provided the French and Spanish with exploration routes to Mexico and other parts of America

Pacific Ocean

Early exploration destination especially for the spice trade in east Asia

Appalachian Mountains

Old eroded mountain chain that stretches from eastern Canada to Alabama

Rocky Mountains

2nd longest mountain chain in the world, stretches from Canada to New Mexico and contains the Continental Divide

Sierra Nevada Mountains

the youngest of the 3 major mountain ranges located in California and Nevada

Continental Divide

An imaginary line that runs north and south along the highest points of the Rocky Mountains. Determines the direction of how rivers flow; rivers flow west or east from this line.