I d like you to learn 10-15 USA rivers. Start using these maps above and below to begin study of this geography:
1. Up in the Colorado Mountains the snow will start to melt as you are hiking across small streams on there way down the mountain
2. One stream will slowly become the Rio Grande and head towards Texas. Another stream will follow a different direction and head towards Arizona and the Grand Canyon (that river is called the Colorado River)
Parts of a River:
1. the headwaters = the start of a river or the beginning. Most of them begin in highlands such as mountains. But some might begin from underwater supplies or underground systems (the Mississippi River)
1. the headwaters = the start of a river or the beginning. Most of them begin in highlands such as mountains. But some might begin from underwater supplies or underground systems (the Mississippi River)
this is the headwaters of the Nile River (have no idea who that lady is)
**below is actually the start of the Mississippi River in northern Minnesota
**below is actually the start of the Mississippi River in northern Minnesota
2. Flood plain = the river valley or location of major flooding after heavy rain storms. Some famous cities and small towns are along flood plains, with farms and small villages too.
Below are two pictures of flooding in the Cedar Rapids area (flood plain of Iowa River system)
Below are two pictures of flooding in the Cedar Rapids area (flood plain of Iowa River system)
---review of parts of a river system:
1. Headwaters = the many small streams and flowing waters that come from the "source" of a river. In mountains these come off the steep slopes of melting ice/ snow into the fast moving rapids of new waters
2. Tributaries = the many smaller rivers, creeks that feed into a main river. **the Skunk, the Iowa, the Cedar Rivers go into the Mississippi
3. meander = the many curves or loops that some rivers show as the go down an area. Think of your drive down highway 61 from Burlington
4. Flood plain = the broad, flat valleys that have the river flow. These lands are close to the river and will "flood after heavy rains".
5. "mouth of the river " = where the river ends or where it will empty into an ever larger river. *at St. Louis the mouth of the Missouri ends up or goes into the big Mississippi. **at Keokuk the Des Moines River's "mouth" ends up or empties into the Mississippi.
**the delta = at the mouth area the river sometimes will slow down and leave a lot of sand/ sediments or mud in this area, then = "the delta"
6. The watershed = see page 21 of textbook. The watersheds are a large area where the many, many river systems are. Sometimes known as the
bathtub of a major river system. **Iowa is part of the large midwest watershed called the Mississippi River Watershed.
7 . Divides = what separates or changes a major watershed. The best example in the USA is the Rocky Mountains and its "CONTINENTAL DIVIDE. **Mr. Myrtue has walked at the top of the DIVIDE.
a. all waters that flow east of the Rockies and its Divide, will flow towards the Mississippi. **see book map on page 21
1. Headwaters = the many small streams and flowing waters that come from the "source" of a river. In mountains these come off the steep slopes of melting ice/ snow into the fast moving rapids of new waters
2. Tributaries = the many smaller rivers, creeks that feed into a main river. **the Skunk, the Iowa, the Cedar Rivers go into the Mississippi
3. meander = the many curves or loops that some rivers show as the go down an area. Think of your drive down highway 61 from Burlington
4. Flood plain = the broad, flat valleys that have the river flow. These lands are close to the river and will "flood after heavy rains".
5. "mouth of the river " = where the river ends or where it will empty into an ever larger river. *at St. Louis the mouth of the Missouri ends up or goes into the big Mississippi. **at Keokuk the Des Moines River's "mouth" ends up or empties into the Mississippi.
**the delta = at the mouth area the river sometimes will slow down and leave a lot of sand/ sediments or mud in this area, then = "the delta"
6. The watershed = see page 21 of textbook. The watersheds are a large area where the many, many river systems are. Sometimes known as the
bathtub of a major river system. **Iowa is part of the large midwest watershed called the Mississippi River Watershed.
7 . Divides = what separates or changes a major watershed. The best example in the USA is the Rocky Mountains and its "CONTINENTAL DIVIDE. **Mr. Myrtue has walked at the top of the DIVIDE.
a. all waters that flow east of the Rockies and its Divide, will flow towards the Mississippi. **see book map on page 21
Life on a Pond:
**Fresh waters that are mostly still water. Ponds are smaller than lakes. Sunlight can usually reach the bottom of ponds. They are made two ways:
1. shallow areas are filled up with rain/ snow falls during the year
2. some are fed by underground water supplies or small creeks
A. Ponds are full of life; minnows and other small fish, a lot of amphibians and some reptiles, with a variety of small insects and plant life.
B. Most interesting of the plant life are the weeds or algae that grow there. **this is the main source of food supply for all animals and even some birds. AS WITH ALL LIFE: THERE IS SHARING OF OXYGEN AND CARBON-DIOXIDE with the sharing of a food supply system
**Fresh waters that are mostly still water. Ponds are smaller than lakes. Sunlight can usually reach the bottom of ponds. They are made two ways:
1. shallow areas are filled up with rain/ snow falls during the year
2. some are fed by underground water supplies or small creeks
A. Ponds are full of life; minnows and other small fish, a lot of amphibians and some reptiles, with a variety of small insects and plant life.
B. Most interesting of the plant life are the weeds or algae that grow there. **this is the main source of food supply for all animals and even some birds. AS WITH ALL LIFE: THERE IS SHARING OF OXYGEN AND CARBON-DIOXIDE with the sharing of a food supply system
LAKES---sometimes you will see a large sandy beach and assume you are looking at an ocean front, but instead its actually a lake. **Drive to Chicago on "Michigan Drive" and you ll know what I mean:
Lakes of the World might be very, very large. The largest ones are knows as inland seas and will have some amounts of "salt content" in them. Some of these lakes are now dried up and only exists as large SALT-FLATS----the most famous is Salt Lake City.
The two above pictures are in the "salt-flats" of Utah. At one time there was a large inland sea in America, now what is left is this giant empty area of white sands of salt lands.
HOW LAKES CAN CHANGE-
A. Like tress that change in the spring to summer and into fall, lakes change as well. 1. this is called seasonal changes in a lake or pond
2. Some lakes / ponds will undergo a long-term change
B. SEASONAL CHANGES OF A LAKE:
1. Happens commonly in northern regions easily. The two main changes are the temperatures of the waters in the lower and higher levels
a. In the summer, the heat will warm up the higher levels of waters. Warm air or water will rise, this is why fish seem to hide deeper into the cooler waters in the hot summer months, **so hint = go to a deeper area of a pond to find the fish (and use a sinker)
b. In the fall, the top layers of water will be cooler. **Cold water is heavier and will sink on push down on the warmer waters below.
ALL OF THIS WILL HELP WATER MIX AND ALL ITS NUTRIENTS.
HOW LAKES CAN CHANGE-
A. Like tress that change in the spring to summer and into fall, lakes change as well. 1. this is called seasonal changes in a lake or pond
2. Some lakes / ponds will undergo a long-term change
B. SEASONAL CHANGES OF A LAKE:
1. Happens commonly in northern regions easily. The two main changes are the temperatures of the waters in the lower and higher levels
a. In the summer, the heat will warm up the higher levels of waters. Warm air or water will rise, this is why fish seem to hide deeper into the cooler waters in the hot summer months, **so hint = go to a deeper area of a pond to find the fish (and use a sinker)
b. In the fall, the top layers of water will be cooler. **Cold water is heavier and will sink on push down on the warmer waters below.
ALL OF THIS WILL HELP WATER MIX AND ALL ITS NUTRIENTS.
Long term changes on a lake or pond:
1. The basic change is plant life growth; algae, moss, trees and at times the lake/ pond becomes more shallow and marshy. (see page 26 in book)
2. The picture you d see is a darker green scum growth on surface of pond
1. The basic change is plant life growth; algae, moss, trees and at times the lake/ pond becomes more shallow and marshy. (see page 26 in book)
2. The picture you d see is a darker green scum growth on surface of pond
Wetlands
1. Have you ever heard of the swamps of Louisiana? They look like flooded forests with strange looking trees, moss hanging down from the branches, maybe some alligators and a lot of snakes and large amphibians all over.
2. THIS IS KNOWN officially as WETLANDS.
1. Have you ever heard of the swamps of Louisiana? They look like flooded forests with strange looking trees, moss hanging down from the branches, maybe some alligators and a lot of snakes and large amphibians all over.
2. THIS IS KNOWN officially as WETLANDS.
Above and below are pictures of areas of Louisana and its Mississippi Delta region
A wetland = land area that is covered by shallow layers of water during some if not all the entire year.
1 All wetlands offer a location for animals and plants to exist in areas that take in flooded waters or delta regions of large rivers as the end their flow into a large ocean or sea.
2. Most common forms of wetlands are: swamps, marshes and bogs. Marshes are grassy areas with perhaps small streams. These are even located in Iowa and continental states
3. Swamps = are the typical large areas like the Everglades
4. Bogs are found in the northern regions of the World, and are very odd looking with interesting features
1 All wetlands offer a location for animals and plants to exist in areas that take in flooded waters or delta regions of large rivers as the end their flow into a large ocean or sea.
2. Most common forms of wetlands are: swamps, marshes and bogs. Marshes are grassy areas with perhaps small streams. These are even located in Iowa and continental states
3. Swamps = are the typical large areas like the Everglades
4. Bogs are found in the northern regions of the World, and are very odd looking with interesting features
*** the wildlife of our Florida Everglades. Some of the most interesting animals are;
( the flamingos, alligator, Florida panther, the spoonbill, the manatee,and the gar).
A. Endangered species = those that are threatened or rare.
The rare birds can only survive in the unique habitat of this wetland area. The Florida panther numbers are dropping as well as the special sea mammal called the sea cow or manatee.
The powerboat propellers easily injure this slow swimmer.
B. Threats to the Everglades: Lake Okeechobee = large lake in the middle of the Everglades is sometimes used now for farming and household use. This is taking away natural needs of the wildlife and plant life of the Everglades.
1. People build canals and levees to stop flooding and direct water into small towns and farmlands. This causes some areas to dry up or change the natural flooding patterns.
2. To stop the destruction of the Everglades, the state and US governments are slowing down the and stopping these actions.
( the flamingos, alligator, Florida panther, the spoonbill, the manatee,and the gar).
A. Endangered species = those that are threatened or rare.
The rare birds can only survive in the unique habitat of this wetland area. The Florida panther numbers are dropping as well as the special sea mammal called the sea cow or manatee.
The powerboat propellers easily injure this slow swimmer.
B. Threats to the Everglades: Lake Okeechobee = large lake in the middle of the Everglades is sometimes used now for farming and household use. This is taking away natural needs of the wildlife and plant life of the Everglades.
1. People build canals and levees to stop flooding and direct water into small towns and farmlands. This causes some areas to dry up or change the natural flooding patterns.
2. To stop the destruction of the Everglades, the state and US governments are slowing down the and stopping these actions.
