Module 5 The United States

Welcome to The United States of America

Instructions: 2. Click on the camera to begin your adventure

1. Click HERE to read your mission.

Ready to publish your article? Once you have visited all 5 locations, click here!

Home

U.S. Regions

U.S. Climate

The Great Lakes

The Appalachian Mountains

The Mississippi River

The Rocky Mountains

The Great Plains

Home

U.S. Regions

U.S. Climate

The Great Lakes

The Appalachian Mountains

The Mississippi River

The Rocky Mountains

The Great Plains

Home

U.S. Regions

U.S. Climate

The Great Lakes

The Appalachian Mountains

The Mississippi River

The Rocky Mountains

The Great Plains

Home

U.S. Regions

U.S. Climate

The Great Lakes

The Appalachian Mountains

The Mississippi River

The Rocky Mountains

The Great Plains

Home

U.S. Regions

U.S. Climate

The Great Lakes

The Appalachian Mountains

The Mississippi River

The Rocky Mountains

The Great Plains

Home

U.S. Regions

U.S. Climate

The Great Lakes

The Appalachian Mountains

The Mississippi River

The Rocky Mountains

The Great Plains

The Applachian Mountains

The Appalachian mountain range stretches over 1,500 miles from Alabama to Maine. The tallest peak is Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina. This mountain range is one of the oldest on Earth, dating back over 480 million years. The range winds through 13 U.S. states, including notable portions in Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. While the Appalachian Mountains are generally lower in elevation compared to the Rockies, they boast impressive heights and rugged beauty. The tallest peak is Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina, standing at an elevation of 6,684 feet. This peak is part of the Black Mountains subrange and is not only the highest in the Appalachians but also the tallest point east of the Mississippi River. The Appalachians are known for their rich biodiversity, hosting diverse ecosystems and a variety of wildlife, as well as for their cultural significance, deeply rooted in American history and folklore.

MAP

Ready to hike....

Where are the hikers? View the map to see real time trail updates

The Great Lakes

Extra!Extra! Read All About It

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The Great Lakes, located along the border of the United States and Canada, make up the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world by total area. These five lakes—Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario—are so vast that they hold about 20% of the world’s fresh surface water. They were formed thousands of years ago by melting glaciers, and today they provide drinking water, transportation routes, and recreation to millions of people. The Great Lakes are also home to a wide variety of fish, plants, and other wildlife, making them vital ecosystems. However, the Great Lakes face several environmental challenges. Pollution from cities, factories, and farms flows into the lakes, affecting water quality and harming plants and animals. Invasive species, like zebra mussels, disrupt the natural balance by competing with native species. Climate change also impacts the lakes, changing water levels and temperatures, which can affect fish populations and even water supply. Conservation efforts, such as the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, work to protect these waters and ensure that they remain clean and healthy for future generations.

1. Which geographic region of the United States has mountains, valleys, rolling hills, borders Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, and has Atlantic Ocean coastline?

The Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the longest river in the United States, stretching nearly 2,400 miles from northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. It is the fourth-largest river in the world and either passes through or borders 10 states. The Mississippi has been an important waterway for trade and industry for much of the last two centuries, and it helped create some of the most fertile areas in the region. Other important rivers in the United States are the Hudson, Rio Grande, Colorado, Missouri, Yukon, and Columbia rivers. All have helped people survive in the United States' varied territories by providing fresh water for drinking, farming, and fishing.

Ring

Ring

Ring

Human Environment Interaction.

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Hmmm it looks like we're getting a phone call from the past. It's from Ahaya, a Mississippian! Let's see what we can learn for our upcoming artical.

The Great Plains

The Great Plains are a large stretch of flat prairie land in the Midwest. They are located west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains and extend about 2,000 miles from north to south and 500 miles from east to west. The Great Plains are widely used for cattle farming and certain forms of agriculture. The region is subject to high winds, hot summers, and very cold winters. It receives little rain, but water deep underground has been used for farming.

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The Rocky Mountains

The Rocky Mountains, often referred to simply as the Rockies, are a major mountain range in western North America. They stretch over 3,000 miles from British Columbia in Canada to New Mexico in the United States. The Rockies are one of the most iconic natural landmarks in the U.S., known for their stunning scenery, towering peaks, and rich biodiversity.

Till 4:00 minutes

The Rockies were formed about 80 to 55 million years ago

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An anachronism is something that doesn't belong in the time period it is depicted in, such as placing a smartphone in a story set in the 1800s.

Back

Great Work! You Published the Article!

Hi and welcome to New York City. As a National Geographic photographer, you will travel the U.S. to capture its diverse beauty for a travel article. Visit all the sites on the map before returning to New York City to publish your findings.

Click on the airplane to get started

Each page will have a camera to choose photos for the magazine and a secret letter to unlock a hidden slide...

Hidden Letters: O P

Hidden Letter: R

You’re a photographer for National Geographic, and you've just received an incredible mission! Your task is to capture breathtaking images of the United States' most iconic physical features for an upcoming article on U.S. history. You’ll be traveling to five unforgettable locations, each with a unique story carved into its landscape. As you explore each place, you’ll go beyond simply snapping photos—you’ll dive into the history, geography, and the powerful connection between people and the land. Keep the five themes of geography in mind as you journey: Location will guide you to each exact spot, Place will reveal what makes each site special, Region will show how areas are grouped together, Human-Environment Interaction will illustrate how people have shaped (and been shaped by) these places, and Movement will uncover the journeys, trade routes, and migrations that transformed these landscapes. Are you ready to set out on this epic photographic adventure across America? Let’s go capture history in action!

Hidden Letters: G Y

Hidden Letters: E H

Hidden Letters: G A

The United States is home to many mountain ranges. Two of the largest are the Rocky Mountains in the West and the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern United States. The Appalachian mountain range stretches over 1,500 miles from Alabama to Maine. The tallest peak is Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina. The Rocky Mountains stretch over 3,000 miles from Canada to New Mexico. The Rockies are known for their diverse climate with distinct seasons. Mt. Elbert in Colorado is the highest peak. Other notable mountain ranges in the United States include the Sierra Nevadas in California and Nevada, the Cascades in Oregon and Washington, the Ozarks in Missouri and Arkansas, the Adirondacks in New York, and the Alaska Range, which includes Denali, the tallest mountain in North America.

The highest peak in the Rocky Mountains is Mount Elbert, which is located in Lake County, Colorado

Coordinates: 39°07′03.9″N 106°26′43.2″W

https://kids.kiddle.co/Great_Lakes

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