Earth’s Landmasses

1. Earth’s Landmasses Chapter 4

2. Terms Island and coral reefs Continent and tectonic plate Topography and Elevation on relief maps Mountain and mountain range Mountain system and Mountain belt Canyons and valleys Coastline or Shorelines • Plateau and bluffs • Map and globes • Meridian and Longitude • Time zones • International date line • Equator and latitude

3. The Continents

4. List the Seven Continents

5. Definitions • Continent – A landmass that measures millions of square kilometers and rises a considerable distance above ____ _____. • Island – A small landmass completely surrounded by _____. • Continental Shield – A large area of very old rock that forms the core of a _______. • Antarctica – The third smallest continent, which is almost completely covered by a thick ________. • Australia – The smallest continent, which is completely surrounded by an __________.

6. More Information • An island is a small landmass completely surrounded by water, and a continent is a large landmass that measures millions of square kilometers and rises a considerable distance above sea level. • Europe, Asia, and Africa make up the largest landmass on Earth. • Antarctica is almost completely covered by a thick icecap, and it is the coldest area on Earth with explorations just starting back in 1901. • Australia is the smallest continent.

7. 4-2 Topography Topography is the shape of the earth’s surface. What causes the surface differences? • Weather • Running water • Soil types • Earthquakes • Volcanoes • People building etc…

8. Topography of the United States

9. Three Main Types of Landscape Regions Mountains – highest mountain highest mountain in the US Plains – Plateaus – One characteristic of a landscape region is elevation. The difference in a region’s elevations is called its _______.

10. Landscape Regions Mountains – natural landform that reaches high elevations with a narrow summit, or top, and steep slopes, or sides Mountain range – is a group of mountains, roughly parallel with similar shape Mountain system – is a group of mountain ranges Mountain belt – even larger group of mountains

11. Mount St. HelensWashington StateMay 18, 1980 • Morning of May 18, 1980— The largest terrestrial landslide in recorded history reduced the summit by 1,300 feet and triggered a lateral blast. • 3 minutes the lateral burst travels 300 miles per hour and scorched 230 square miles • Active from May 18 through Oct 1980 • The youngest glacier has formed in the crater • Ash drifted across US for 3 days and around the Earth for 15 days

12. Landscape Regions Plains – flat land area that does not rise far above sea level Coastal plains– flat areas along the coast where land meets the ocean Interior plains – usually higher than coastal plains, low flat areas inland part of continent

13. Landscape Regions Plateaus – broad, flat area of land that rises more than 600 meters above sea level

14. Grand Canyon

15. Questions • Because of the abundance of fertile soil, farming is a major activity in these areas. __________ • These broad, flat areas rise more than 600 meters above sea level. _________ • Most of these regions on Earth are located within two major belts. _______ • These areas are characterized by broad rivers and streams. _____________ • The Grand Canyon is formed in one of these regions. _____ • These regions have narrow tops, steep slopes, and very high relief. ________ • The difference between highest and lowest elevations in these regions may be less than 100 meters. ___________ • These regions may form from volcanic activity. ___________

16. Questions • Because of the abundance of fertile soil, farming is a major activity in these areas. _Plains_ • These broad, flat areas rise more than 600 meters above sea level. __Plateaus • Most of these regions on Earth are located within two major belts. _lMountains_ • These areas are characterized by broad rivers and streams. __Plains__ • The Grand Canyon is formed in one of these regions. __Plateaus • These regions have narrow tops, steep slopes, and very high relief.Mountains • The difference between highest and lowest elevations in these regions may be less than 100 meters. _Plains___ • These regions may form from volcanic activity. __Mountains__

17. Topography of United States

18. 4-3 Mapping the Earth’s Surface

19. Maps show locations and distances on the Earth’s surface.

20. They also show many different local features.

21. Some maps show the soil types in an area. Some show currents in the ocean. Some maps show small, detailed areas of the Earth. Maps of cities may show every street in those cities.

22. Maps, what does each show?

24. Draw a picture to illustrate each term, then write a short phrase to describe it in words. Island Continent Topography Elevation Relief Mountain Mountain range Mountain system Mountain belt Coastal plain Interior plain Review Terms • Plateau • Map • Globe • Scale • Meridian • Prime Meridian • Longitude • Time zone • International date line • Parallel • Equator • Latitude

25. Longitude

26. Latitude