Geology of the Great Plains and Mountain West: Investigate How the Earth Was Formed With 15 Projects

188 Pages·2011·4.81 MB·English

by  Cynthia Light Brown

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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Geology and Geography
CHAPTER 1
Plate Tectonics Shape Our Land and Sea
CHAPTER 2
Mountain Ranges
CHAPTER 3
Volcanoes and Earthquakes!
CHAPTER 4
The Plains
CHAPTER 5
Climate
CHAPTER 6
Rivers
CHAPTER 7
Ecosystems
CHAPTER 8
The Great Lakes
GLOSSARY
RESOURCES
INDEX
INTRODUCTION
GEOLOGY & GEOGRAPHY
he Great Plains and Mountain West form the heartland of the United
T
States. This area in the middle of the country has land rippling with
wheat and corn. It has towering, majestic mountains. And it has the most
destructive tornadoes in the world.
The Great Plains and Mountain West also contain some of our nation’s greatest
natural wonders. Maybe you live near the mighty Mississippi River. Maybe you
have visited the Great Lakes, or explored Yellowstone National Park.
Why do the plains of the Midwest spread out flat like a pancake? How did
the Rocky Mountains, which rise so high, form right next to these plains? Even
though the central part of the North American continent doesn’t have exploding
volcanoes, lots of changes have happened there over billions and billions of
years.
In this book, you’ll learn about the geology and physical geography of the
Great Plains and Mountain West. You’ll read about the forces that have shaped
the region’s mountains, plains, rivers, weather, and ecosystems. And you’ll
discover some interesting facts about the area.
Did you know that earthquakes in Missouri have caused waves in the
Mississippi River to travel upstream? Or that the Great Lakes hold one fifth of
the freshwater of the entire world? As you read through this book, you’ll get to
work on a lot of exciting experiments and projects. They will help you
understand new concepts, like how a flood happens.
WORDS TO KNOW
plains: a flat expanse of land.
the Midwest: another name for the Great Plains in the middle of
the United States.
geology: the scientific study of the history and physical nature of
the earth.
geography: the study of the earth and its features, especially the
shape of the land, and the effect of human activity.
ecosystem: a community of plants and animals living in the same
area and relying on each other to survive.
freshwater: water that is not salty.
GEOLOGY: MORE THAN JUST ROCKS
Most people think of geology as the study of rocks. Geology certainly includes