US Geography: Regions, Rivers, Mountains, Climate & Population

Posted on Feb 13, 2025 in Geography

Regions of the United States

The United States is commonly divided into several regions:

  • Northeastern Region: From Maine to Maryland and West Virginia (includes New England and the Mid-Atlantic States).
  • Southern Region: From Virginia and Kentucky to Louisiana and Florida.
  • Midwestern Region: From Ohio to the Dakotas and Kansas.
  • Rocky Mountain Region: From Montana to Nevada and Colorado.
  • Southwestern Region: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma.
  • Pacific Coastal Region: Washington, Oregon, and California.

Time Zones in the US

The continental United States spans four primary time zones:

  • Eastern Time Zone
  • Central Time Zone
  • Mountain Time Zone
  • Pacific Time Zone

Major Rivers and Lakes

The Mississippi River:

  • Extends from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.
  • Provides drainage for the Great Plains.
  • The longest river in North America (and the world’s 4th longest).
  • Transports over 472 million tons of cargo annually.
  • Generates over $7 billion in agricultural and forest products and $29 million in manufactured goods each year.

Other Important Rivers:

  • The Colorado River: Located in the Southwest, it has carved the Grand Canyon in Arizona (277 miles long and 1 mile deep).
  • The Hudson River: Historically crucial for commerce in New York. The Erie Canal (opened in 1825) connected it to the Midwest, establishing New York City as the nation’s primary port.

The Great Lakes:

  • Lake Superior
  • Lake Michigan
  • Lake Huron
  • Lake Erie
  • Lake Ontario

Note: All the Great Lakes except Lake Michigan are shared between Canada and the U.S.

The Great Lakes Inland Water System: Provides a route for iron ore, wheat, and coal through the lakes to the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Atlantic Ocean.

Other Notable Lakes:

  • Great Salt Lake (Utah)
  • Crater Lake (Oregon)
  • Lake Champlain (between New York and Vermont)

Minnesota is known as “the land of lakes.”

Major Mountain Ranges

  • The Rocky Mountains: Located in western North America, extending 3,000 miles from central New Mexico to northern Alaska.
  • The Appalachian Mountains: Located in eastern North America, extending 1,600 miles from Quebec to Alabama.

Highest Peaks

  • Mount McKinley (Denali): The highest peak in North America, located in South Central Alaska (elevation: 6,194 meters or 20,320 feet).
  • Mount Whitney: The highest peak in the contiguous United States, located in Sequoia National Park, Eastern California (elevation: 4,418 meters or 14,505 feet).

The Great Plains

An extremely flat expanse of land located between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains, stretching from Canada to Texas.

National Parks

The United States has set aside large areas as recreation areas or wildlife preserves (40,000 sq mi or 104,000 sq km). These parks preserve natural beauty, diverse ecosystems, and provide opportunities for nature study.

Climate Regions

  • Continental Moist: Northeast and Midwest.
  • Subtropical Moist: Southern states, Oklahoma, and Texas.
  • Continental Steppe-Semiarid: Great Plains.
  • Desert: Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico.
  • Marine Temperate: Pacific Coast.
  • Subtropical: California.
  • Subarctic and Tundra: Alaska.
  • Tropical: Hawaii.

Weather Extremes

  • Death Valley: Record high temperature of 134°F.
  • Alaska: Annual low temperatures can reach -76°F.
  • Washington State: Receives over 600 inches (15 meters) of snow annually in some areas.
  • Great Plains: Experiences an average of 600 tornadoes per year.
  • South Atlantic Coast: Experiences an average of 4 hurricanes per year.

Population

  • Current Population (as of the document’s creation): Approximately 316 million.
  • Fastest Growing Regions: The Southwest and the Pacific Coast, driven by job opportunities and lower housing costs.
  • Fastest Growing States: California, Texas, New York, and Florida.

Population Distribution by Ethnic Group

  • Non-Hispanic Whites: 66.1%
  • Hispanics: 15.1%
  • African Americans: 12.4%
  • Asian Americans: 4.4%
  • American Indian/Alaska Native: 1.1%
  • Pacific Islander: 0.1%

Immigration

Immigration accounts for approximately one-third of the population growth. About 20% of immigrants come from Europe, while 75% originate from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia.

Future Population Projections

  • The population will become even more diverse.
  • The combined minority population will equal the size of the non-Hispanic white population.
  • The Hispanic population will continue to grow, surpassing the African American population.