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Physical features of the US, climate, lakes and rivers, minerals

The physical features of the US are greatly diverse. The majestic Rocky M-ns stretch all the way from Mexico to the Arctic. They divide the country into 2 parts – the e & the w. The e is occupied by the Appalachian M-ns, the Atlantic Plain, the vast Central Plain & the Plateau of Prairies of the Great Plain. The w is under the influence of the powerful Cordillera mountain system & the Rockies are part of this system.

The mount-n ranges afford no protection against the cold northerly winds. The Appalach m-ns run along the Atlantic coast of the US. Nearly all the w-ern part of the US is occupied by the Cordillera Moun-n system. The Cor Moun-s extend from Mexico to Canada & Alaska.

Climate The US has practically all the climate zones. The main landmass of the US is in the temperate zone. The clim conditions are determined by the great moun-s & the wind. The w-ern parts are favored by the prevailing winds. The Cascade M-ns & the Sieraa Nevada M-ns catch the largest amount of the rain from the PO. That’s why there is too little rain for almost the whole w-ern half of US. There is a 50-centimetre rainfall line in the US.

The rivers of the US belong to the Atlantic & the Pacific basins (The two sides are separated by the Continental Divide (an imaginary line). Mississipi river – 2/3 of the US water, one of the world’s longest water way. Missouri river is the principal w-ern branch of the Mississippi. Other import tributaries of the Mississipi are Ohio river, the Arkansas river, Red river. The 2 greatest rivers of the Pacific are the Colorado & the Columbia (+ the Snake River, the Sacramento). The Rio Grande forms a natural boundary b-n Mexico & the US. The Delaware, the Potomac, the Hudson – into AO.

Rivers are considered short and not profitable for navigation. However, many of them are used as waterways.

The Great Lakes make up the largest group of the lakes in the US. The total area is 245 th sq km: Michigan, Superior, Huron, Ontario, Erie, are connected w/the AO. Great Lakes & the St.Lawrence River form the longest waterway in the world. In the Great Salt lake (Utah) there is 6000 ml tons of salt.

Minerals. 1^st place in the world: coal, natural gas, molibden, lead; 2nd: copper, zink. The US is rich in oil, iron. The total recouces of coal – 1,5 trillion tons, of oil – 5000 ml tons. Coal – Appalachian, uranium – New Mexico; oil & natural gas – Alaska, Cordillera, Gulf of Mexico. Electric power – Tennessee River, Columbia, Sacromento, Colorado; Iron – close to lake Superior, Pittsburg (city of steel); Gold – California, Alaska; Lack a supply of tin, chrome, nickel.