The United States is the third largest country by land area, covering approximately half the size of Russia or one third the size of Africa. It has diverse topography including mountains, plains, plateaus, rivers, lakes and deserts. Some of the most notable geographic features include the Mississippi River, Great Lakes, Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and Death Valley.

1. US Geography Basics
Third largest country in the world.
1/2 the size of Russia.
1/3 the size of Africa.
1/2 the size of South America.
2 ½ times the size of Western Europe

3. Topography of the US

4. The Contour of the US

5. Topography of
the Northeast

6. Topography of the Southeast

7. Topography of the Midwest

8. The Great Plains

9. Topography
of the
West

10. Bodies of Water
Great
Salt Lake Chesapeake
Bay
Lake
Okeechobee

12. Rivers
Columbia R.
Potomac R.
Ohio R.
Yukon R.

13. The Mississippi: America‟s Great River Road
The “Big Muddy”.
2,350 miles.
Draining all or part of 31
states & 2 Canadian provinces.
Covers 40% of the U. S.

14. Great Salt Lake
2000 square miles.
10‟ – 28‟ deep.
6 times saltier than the oceans.

15. Lake Okeechobee, FL

17. Mountains & Plateaus
^ Mt. Whitney
^ Pike’s Peak
^ Mt. McKinley
Alaskan Range

19. The Contour of the US

20. Plains
Great
Basin

21. The Great Plains

22. Plateaus

23. Cumberland Plateau & „Gap‟
AL, KY, TN, VA, WV
24,640 sq. mi.
Natural passage [Gap]
through the
Cumberland Mts.

24. Deserts
Death
Valley
Mohave
Desert

25. Mohave Desert – 3,000‟

26. Death Valley, CA
3.3 million acres.
95% wilderness.

27. Completed Map
Columbia R.
Great Great Potomac R.
Basin Salt Lake
Chesapeake
Bay
^ Mt. Whitney Ohio R.
Death ^ Pike’s Peak
Valley
Mohave
Desert
Lake
Yukon R.Mt. McKinley
^ Okeechobee
Alaskan Range