US Major Landforms Quiz
Plains, plateaus, basins, mountains, coasts (nationwide) (10 questions).
US Major Landforms Quiz: Quick Study Notes
The United States features a diverse landscape ranging from the weathered peaks of the Appalachians in the East to the rugged Rockies in the West. Between these distinct mountain systems lie vast interior plains, arid basins, and high plateaus that define the nation’s geography.
The Rockies are young and jagged; the Appalachians are old and rounded.
The Great Basin in Nevada is an endorheic region where water does not reach the sea.
The Great Plains slope upward from the Mississippi River to the Rockies.
The Colorado Plateau hosts the Grand Canyon; the Columbia Plateau is volcanic.
Key Takeaways
- The Continental Divide splits Pacific and Atlantic watersheds.
- The Great Plains are characterized by semi-arid grassland.
- The Coastal Plains stretch along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
- The Cascade Range is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
- The Sierra Nevada is a massive granite fault-block mountain range.
- The Central Valley is California’s agricultural heartland.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Rockies and Appalachians?
The Rocky Mountains are geologically younger, taller, and more jagged, while the Appalachian Mountains are much older, lower in elevation, and rounded by erosion.
Where is the Great Basin located?
The Great Basin covers most of Nevada and extends into Utah, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming. It is known for having no outlet to the ocean.
What defines the Great Plains?
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe, and grassland, that lies west of the Mississippi River tallgrass prairie and east of the Rocky Mountains.
Which plateau contains the Grand Canyon?
The Grand Canyon is carved into the Colorado Plateau, a high desert region centered where Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico meet.
What is the Continental Divide?
The Continental Divide constitutes the principal hydrological divide of the Americas. It separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those river systems that drain into the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.
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