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N.American Geography
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Pacific Ocean | 1. west of North America 2. largest and deepest ocean on earth 3.surrounded by a " Ring of Fire" (volcanoes) |
| Atlantic Ocean | 1.east of North America 2. European explorers and settlers crossed the Atlantic to reach the americas 3. major, busy trade route for cargo ships |
| Caribbean sea | 1.east of North America 2.hurricans are common in summer 3.Christopher Columbus sailed to this region in1492 |
| Rio Grande | 1. forms a natural border between Mexico and Texas 2.flows from the rocky mountains in Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico |
| Hudson Bay | 1. very large body of salt water in northeast Canada 2. home for polar bears and beluga whales 3. played a major role in the fur trade during the 1600s |
| five great lakes | 1. located between Canada and the United States 2.the worlds largest fresh water system 3. Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Eric, and Superior |
| Missouri river | 1. the longest river in north America 2.nicknamed"big muddy" because it carries a massive amount of loose dirt and sand 3.it was a major way of travel for pioneers, fur traders, and steamboats moving west in the 1800s |
| Mississippi river | 1. million of geese, and swans move along the mississippi during migration seasons 2. it is one of the busiest shipping route in the world (oil, coal, iron, steel, and grains from midwest farms) |
| Rocky Mountains | 1.begins in Canada and ends in new mexico 2. shaped by glaciers that carved out sharp peaks and deep valleys 3. melting snow from the Rockies provides about 25%of the drinking and farming water in United states |
| Appalachians mountains | 1.begins in Canada and ends in alabama 2.the peeks have a smooth, rolling look because of erosion over millions of years 3.they were a huge natural barrier for early settlers trying to move west from the original 13 colonies |
| Great Plains | 1.a massive, flat grassland area in between the Rocky Mountians and the Mississipi River 2.known as America's "Bread basket" because the rich soil is good for growing wheat and corn as well as raising cattle 3.many tornadoes hit this area because warm, |