USI.2 ~ Major Bodies of Water

What are the major bodies of water in the United States?
The United States has access to numerous and varied bodies of water.

Major Bodies of Water

·    Oceans: Atlantic, Pacific

·    Rivers: Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande

·    Lakes: Great Lakes

·    Gulf: Gulf of Mexico
What are some ways bodies of water in the United States have supported interaction and created links to other regions?
Bodies of water support interaction among regions, form borders, and create links to other areas.

Atlantic Ocean

  • served as the highway for explorers, early settlers, and immigrants

  • located east of the United States

  • has provided access to other areas of the world

Pacific Ocean

  • an early exploration route

  • located west of the United States

  • has provided access to other areas of the world

Mississippi River

  • transportation artery for farm and industrial products

  • links to ports and other parts of the world

  • flows through the Interior Lowlands into the Gulf of Mexico

  • part of the longest and most important river system

Missouri River

  • transportation artery for farm and industrial products

  • links to ports and other parts of the world

  • flows through the Great Plains, the Interior Lowlands into the Mississippi River

  • part of the  longest and most important river system

Ohio River

  • was the Gateway to the west

  • flows into the Mississippi River

Columbia River

  • explored by Lewis and Clark

Colorado River

  • explored by the Spanish

Rio Grande River

  • forms the border with Mexico

Great Lakes

  • there are five Great Lakes

  •  inland port cities grew in the Midwest along the Great Lakes

  • form part of the border between the United States and Canada

Gulf of Mexico

  • provided the French and Spanish with exploration routes to Mexico and other parts of America

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Bodies of Water Pop-Ups

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