Geography of the United States Flashcards

Grade 8 · Social Studies · Flashcards

Key geographic features, regions, and landforms of the United States for Grade 8 Social Studies.

Flashcards

Appalachian Mountains: Eastern mountain range from Alabama to Maine — first major barrier to American westward expansion
Great Plains: Vast central US grassland from Texas to Canada — America's breadbasket for wheat and corn
Rocky Mountains: Major western mountain range with peaks over 14,000 feet — runs from New Mexico to Canada
Continental Divide: Ridge of the Rockies where rivers split — east flows to Atlantic/Gulf, west flows to Pacific
Mississippi River: 2,340-mile river from Minnesota to Gulf of Mexico — drains 40% of continental US; key trade route
Missouri River: Longest US river at 2,341 miles — runs from Montana to join the Mississippi near St. Louis
Great Basin: High desert region in Nevada and Utah between the Rockies and Pacific ranges — rivers drain inward, not to ocean
Death Valley: Lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level — hottest place on Earth
Coastal Plains: Low, flat land along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts — heavily populated and historically important for agriculture
Great Lakes: Five large freshwater lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario) along the US-Canada border — important for trade and transportation
Rio Grande: River forming the US-Mexico border from Texas to New Mexico — empties into Gulf of Mexico
Sierra Nevada: Mountain range along California's eastern edge — includes Mount Whitney, highest peak in the continental US at 14,505 feet