Islands: The United States claims numerous islands, with the largest being Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. The Colorado River, famous for carving the Grand Canyon, also contributes significantly to the landscape of the Southwest. The Missouri River, a tributary of the Mississippi, is the longest river in North America. The Mississippi River, one of the longest in the world, flows south from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, effectively dividing the country into eastern and western halves. Prominent rivers in the United States include the Mississippi, the Missouri, and the Colorado. The Great Lakes, including Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, are located in the northeastern part of the country and form the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world by total area. Major Bodies of Water: The United States also boasts a wealth of major bodies of water, rivers, and islands. The range extends across the breadth of Alaska, which itself is a massive, rugged, state that was purchased from Russia in 1867. This region is home to Mount Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley, which, at 6.2 kilometers (20,310 feet), is the highest point above sea level in the United States. The Alaskan Range: Situated further to the north of the Pacific Coast Range lies the Alaskan Range. This range also encompasses several active volcanoes and the renowned California coastal areas. This includes the coastal mountains along the Pacific Ocean, from Alaska all the way to California. The Pacific Coast Range: Finally, on the western edge of the continent, lies the Pacific Coast Range. This region also contains the Great Basin, a largely arid area characterized by desert and salt flats. The Intermontane Plateaus, including the Columbia and Colorado Plateau, lie to the west of the Rocky Mountains.
This region, which covers a significant portion of western North America, boasts some of the highest peaks on the continent, including Mount Elbert. The Rocky Mountains: Further to the west, the landscape rises again into the Rocky Mountains. The Great Plains, characterized by prairies and grasslands, are a hub for agriculture due to their fertile soil. This region covers much of the central United States and extends into Canada. The Great Plains: Beyond the Appalachian Mountains lies the vast expanse of the Interior Lowlands, also known as the Great Plains. These mountains, which include notable peaks such as Mount Mitchell, were among the first regions settled by Europeans in the colonial period. The Appalachian Mountains: Moving westward, one encounters the Appalachian Mountains, a system of ranges extending from the Canadian province of Quebec to northern Alabama. It includes both low-lying, swampy areas, especially in the south, and more elevated regions to the north.
The Atlantic Coastal Plain: Starting in the eastern part of the country, the Atlantic Coastal Plain extends from the northeastern states down to Florida, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. In regards to north-south, the longest distance in the 48 contiguous states region is 2,660 km (1653 mi). Last, the greatest east-west distance in the 48 contiguous United States is 4,500 km (2796 mi). Spanning a total area of approximately 9,833,520 km 2 (3,796,742 sq mi), the United States ranks as the third or fourth- largest country by total area, depending on if one includes or omits water area, respectively.įurthermore, there are numerous geographical regions that form the contiguous United States as well as its various island territories and states. To the east lies the vast Atlantic Ocean, while the equally expansive Pacific Ocean borders the western coastline. The United States, officially known as the United States of America (USA), shares its borders with Canada to the north and Mexico to the south.
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