Regions of the United States Quiz

This physiographic region includes mountain ranges of the North American Cordillera and other ranges, basins, and plateaus.

Some of the main mountain ranges found here include the Coat Mountains and Saint Elias Mountains. The nature of these mountain ranges is not the same throughout the region. The coastline here often has a dramatic landscape with tall, steep cliffs dropping down directly into the sea. Such places are highly photogenic. At places, the coast is also riddled with numerous bays, capes, fjords, islands, coves, caves, and other coastal features. Coastal plains form at the mouths of rivers flowing down the mountains and valleys of the (H)

Pacific Coastal Range

It is believed that inland seas covered the area millions of years ago. Sediment deposition over the years led to the formation of the plains seen today. Rolling flat land with many rivers, broad river valleys and grassy hills. Much greener than its western counterpart, receives more rain and higher humidity. Tornado Alley has shifted more into this region, believed to be caused by global climate change. This is concerning due to the area's much denser population and economic activity. (C)

Interior lowlands

Also known as the Laurentian Upland. It is basically a small part of a much larger region extending well into and dominating much of our neighbor to the north. (D)

Canadian Shield

This physiographic region of the US features a system of mountain ranges, plateaus, basins, gorges, deserts and other features.

Some of the major plateaus in this region are the Colorado Plateaus and the Columbia Plateau. This region boasts some of the most dramatic landscapes of the US like Death Valley and the Grand Canyon. (G)

Basin & Range/Intermountain

This mountain region is located in Central US. It spans parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri. This region includes three distinct mountain ranges. These are the St. Francois Mountains, the Boston Mountains, and the Ouachita Mountains. The vegetation cover in this region is dominated by mixed and temperate broadleaf forests. Thee national forests are also present here. (I)

Interior Highlands

This region contains the nations biggest mountain ranges. It is a branch of the Cordilleran system that is located far inland.

Formed about 80 to 55 million years back due to tectonic activity. Later, glacial action shaped the mountains and valleys in the region resulting in the dramatic landscape that we see today. Today, large parts of this mountain range are protected as public parks and national forests. Popular tourist recreational activities like mountaineering, camping, mountain biking, hiking, skiing, etc., are enjoyed by visitors. (F)

Rocky Mountains

The flattest of all the eight physiographic regions of the US. This region includes the coastal parts of southern and eastern US. It gradually slopes down into the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico in a series of terraces that end up in the ocean as the continental shelf. The coastline here is characterized by numerous barriers, drowned river valleys, inlets of the sea, marshes, and other wetland habitats. Windham and Raymond exist in this region, though Raymond's increasing elevation marks the transition into the other region Maine has to our west and north. (B)

Coastal Plain

Flat land that gradually increases in elevation westward; grasslands. Wild swings in temperatures across the seasons. Typically dry in summer, with low humidity the more north you travel. (E)

Great Plains

This physiographic region of the US is located on the eastern side of the country. Some of its sub-mountain ranges include the Adirondacks, and the Watchung Mountains. The region also encompasses the province of New England that features vast tracts of forests of mixed and subtropical montane vegetation. Formed about 480 million years back during the Ordovician Period. If you downhill ski at Sunday River or Sugarloaf, you visit this region. (A)

Appalachian Mountains