United States Landforms Quiz
Plains, plateaus, mountains, basins, coastal features of the US (10 questions).
United States Landforms Quiz: Quick Study Notes
The geography of the United States features a diverse tapestry of physical landscapes, ranging from the rugged, young peaks of the Western Cordillera to the rolling, ancient highlands of the East. Mastering these landforms is essential for understanding North American topography.
Denali in Alaska is the highest peak in the country at 20,310 feet.
Death Valley contains North America’s lowest point at 282 feet below sea level.
The Great Plains stretch from the Mississippi River to the Rockies.
The Eastern Continental Divide separates Gulf drainage from Atlantic drainage.
Key Takeaways
- The Appalachian Mountains are geologically older and more eroded than the Rockies.
- The Great Basin is a region of internal drainage where water does not reach the sea.
- Padre Island off the Texas coast is the world’s longest barrier island.
- The Colorado Plateau is a massive uplifted area that hosts the Grand Canyon.
- The Fall Line marks the geological boundary between the hard rock of the Piedmont and the soft sediment of the Coastal Plain.
What are the two major mountain ranges in the United States?
The two primary mountain systems are the Rocky Mountains in the West and the Appalachian Mountains in the East.
Where is the lowest point in the US located?
The lowest point is Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California, situated 282 feet below sea level.
What is the Great Basin?
The Great Basin is a large arid region in the western US characterized by endorheic drainage, meaning streams and rivers there do not flow into the ocean.
Where are the Great Plains located?
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flatland located west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains, covering much of the central United States.
What is the Fall Line?
The Fall Line is a geological boundary between the upland Piedmont and the Atlantic Coastal Plain, often marked by waterfalls and rapids where rivers descend in elevation.

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