BY LILY SIMMONS

THIS LANDFORM REGIONS TAKES UP MOST OF THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES AND ALL OF FLORIDA. THIS REGION INCLUDES MANY PLACES WHERE A RIVER MEETS THE SEA, ALSO KNOWN AS DELTAS. IT ALSO INCLUDE MARSHES, SWAMPS, AND WETLANDS.THESE AREAS ARE A HABITAT TO MANY SPECIES OF BIRDS AND FISH. NOT ALL OF THE AREA IS SATURATED WITH WATER SO IT HAS POOR SOIL. OTHER AREAS HOWEVER ARE IDEAL FOR FOR FARMING. CROPS SUCH AS CITRUS AND COTTON FLOURISH IN THESE AREAS. NATURAL GAS AND PETROLEUM ARE THE MOST VALUABLE RESOURCES IN THIS LANDFORM REGION.

The Appalachian Mountains are the oldest mountains in North America. They begin in Canada and run through the eastern United States from Maine to Alabama. Geologically, they may have once been as tall and as jagged as the Himalayas. However, over millions of years, the mountains have eroded. These ancient mountains are now characterized by their large, rolling hills, covered in deciduous hardwood forests. The highest peak in this mountain chain is Mount Mitchell, in North Carolina, which sits more than 6,000 feet above sea level. The Blue Ridge Mountains, Smoky Mountains, Catskills, Green Mountains, White Mountains, and Cumberland Mountains are all part of the Appalachian Mountains. Historically, the Appalachian Mountains have served as a natural boundary. Early in U.S. history, these mountains marked the edge of westward expansion. In 1763, the British Parliament passed a proclamation stating that colonists could not settle west of these mountains. This was done in an attempt to avoid conflicts between Native American peoples and colonists. Of course, settlers eventually did move west of the Appalachians. Today, more than four million people visit the Appalachian Mountains each year. Many visitors come to hike all or part of the famous Appalachian Trail, which runs across 14 states and covers more than 2,000 miles.

The Central Plains are one of the landform regions of the United States. This landform region is a part of the larger geographic region known as the Plains. Though different descriptions exist of the boundaries of the Central Plains, it roughly includes the land north of the Arkansas river and south of South Dakota. The Central Plains includes central states such as Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, eastern Colorado and parts of northeastern Texas and southeastern Wyoming. The Central Plains landform has generally flat land, historically covered by prairie grasses. Like the Plains region, the Central Plains are home to several different Native American cultures. These cultures include the Cheyenne, Pawnee, and Sioux. Today, the Central Plains are home to many large farms and ranches. There are also several populous cities, including Oklahoma City. The elevation of the land gradually rises as it moves westward toward the Rocky Mountains.

A plateau is an area of high, level ground. But what’s an Ozark? The Ozark Plateau is one of several landform regions of the United States. The word Ozark is likely a mistranslation of a French term, passed down from early French explorers. Over time, the exact translation has been lost, but the word Ozark, and the region for which it’s named, remains. Today, the Ozark Plateau refers to the area of high, often wooded ground in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. This highland is sometimes known as the Ozark Mountains. The highest peak reaches 2,000 feet. The region is rich with abundant wildlife, lakes, and rivers, and the land sits at a higher elevation than the surrounding plains. The region also features underground streams and springs as well as the Osage, White, Black, and Gasconade Rivers.

The Canadian Shield is a horseshoe-shaped region that covers a small part of the northern United States, and a large area in Canada’s east, central and northwestern regions. In the United States, the Canadian Shield region includes parts of northern Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, and Minnesota. In Canada, this region encircles Hudson Bay; in total, this region covers about 8 million square kilometers (over 3 million square miles). The region is named for the thin layer of soil that lies over a thick layer of bedrock. The rock in the southern Canadian Shield is known to contain many different mineral deposits, and mining is a common activity in many parts of the region. The northern region features an arctic climate, frozen soil, and a short growing season. As a result, it is sparsely populated. Inhabitants of the region, like the Inuit, rely on hunting and fishing. The southern regions are more heavily populated and include some urban areas. The land also has numerous lakes, swamps, and forests. It is also known as the Laurentian Plateau.

The Great Plains are a landform region of the central United States. This region is part of the larger geographic region of the Plains, and it includes a broad swath of land east of the Rocky Mountains. It covers approximately 1,125,000 square miles of land. The land here is mostly flat and treeless, and covered with prairie grasses. This region was formed by the last ice age, when great continental ice sheets scoured the land, smoothing out the hills and valleys. Several major rivers flow through the Great Plains, including the Missouri and the Mississippi. The Great Plains region extends north into Canada and south to Mexico. The region is bounded on the east by the Canadian Shield and Appalachian Mountains. Most of the Great Plains region is relatively dry. Many places receive less than 16 inches of rain annually. The region generally experiences warm summers, cold winters, high winds, and low humidity. The region has been home to various groups in U.S. history, including Spanish colonists, Plains Indians, and European immigrants. The introduction of horses to the region from Spain allowed the Plains Indians culture to thrive. The Plains Indians hunted bison. European immigrants and migrants from the East Coast settled the land during the mid-1800s. They established farms, ranches, and towns. With the exception of some urban areas, most of the region has a low population density.

At the western edge of the Great Plains, the land dramatically begins to rise. The ground changes from grass-covered flat land to steep forested slopes. This is the Rocky Mountain landform region of the western United States. While the Appalachian Mountains to the east can trace their formation back at least 270 million years, the Rockies are relative new-comers. They are only about 65 to 75 million years old and were formed when layers of Earth’s crust slowly collided. The Rocky Mountain range is known for its high, jagged peaks. The tallest peak lies just outside of Leadville, Colorado: Mount Elbert, which rises to 14,433 feet. This mountain range is one of the longest in the world. It stretches into northern British Columbia, Canada, and south to nearly the U.S.-Mexico border. The Rocky Mountains run through several U.S. states, including Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico.

The Coastal Range forms the eastern border of the Pacific Coast. The West Coast of the United States is much different from the eastern coast. The East has the landform region of the Gulf and Atlantic Coastal Plains. This is a broad, flat expanse of land that stretches from the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean. The western United States has the landform region of the Coastal Range, which includes smaller mountain ranges that stretch along the Pacific Ocean. Mountain ranges that make up the Coastal Range include the Cascades and the Sierra Nevada Range. This landform region extends all the way up the Pacific Coast, through Canada and into Alaska. It also goes south to Mexico, for a distance of more than 2000 miles. The region has been inhabited by various Native American groups, including the California Indians and the Eskimo-Aleut groups. The Spanish were the first Europeans to settle the region. The British and Russian governments made land claims in the Pacific Northwest region. Acquisition of this region enabled the United States to expand from coast to coast. The United States gradually gained control of the land within this region. The United States acquired California territory through war with Mexico. Negotiation with Great Britain resulted in the acquisition of Oregon territory south of the 49th parallel. The United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867.