The Midwest RegionThe Midwest Region

Great LakesGreat Lakes

The Great LakesThe Great Lakes

From largest to smallest they are:• Lake Superior--The largest freshwater lake in the world

• Lake Huron

• Lake Michigan

• Lake Erie

• Lake Ontario

18,000 years ago glaciers covered the Midwest. • As they moved across the land they gouged enormous holes in the land.

• The glaciers melted and filled these giant holes with water.

• This is how the Great Lakes were formed.

From largest to smallest they are:• Lake Superior--The largest freshwater lake in the world

• Lake Huron

• Lake Michigan

• Lake Erie

• Lake Ontario

18,000 years ago glaciers covered the Midwest. • As they moved across the land they gouged enormous holes in the land.

• The glaciers melted and filled these giant holes with water.

• This is how the Great Lakes were formed.

RiversRivers Midwest has many lakes and rivers Ohio River forms the boundary between the Midwest

and Southeast Ohio River flows into the Mississippi River Missouri River is the largest tributary of the Mississippi

River Tributary- a smaller river that flows into a bigger river Thousands of years ago, glaciers carved deep trenches in

the land. When the glaciers melted these “trenches” filled with water to become rivers.

Midwest has many lakes and rivers Ohio River forms the boundary between the Midwest

and Southeast Ohio River flows into the Mississippi River Missouri River is the largest tributary of the Mississippi

River Tributary- a smaller river that flows into a bigger river Thousands of years ago, glaciers carved deep trenches in

the land. When the glaciers melted these “trenches” filled with water to become rivers.

Ohio RiverOhio River

Missouri RiverMissouri RiverMissouri River

The Great PlainsThe Great Plains

Plain-A broad area of land that is gently rolling or almost flat

“The Midwest is the flattest region of the United States. It is the only one with no mountain ranges”.

Glaciers scrapped and squashed the land making it as flat as a pancake. • The glaciers left behind good soil. • Flat land is easier to farm

Farming & Ranching

Plain-A broad area of land that is gently rolling or almost flat

“The Midwest is the flattest region of the United States. It is the only one with no mountain ranges”.

Glaciers scrapped and squashed the land making it as flat as a pancake. • The glaciers left behind good soil. • Flat land is easier to farm

Farming & Ranching

Great plainsGreat plains

The Sand Hills, Nebraska

The Sand Hills, Nebraska

Region of mixed grass prairie on sand dunes Large array of plant and animal life Home to 314 animal species-deer, coyotes red

foxes, wild turkeys, bats and fishes Thousands of ponds and lakes Sandy soil= no crops Cattle ranching area Covers 1/4 of Nebraska Part of the Great Plains

Region of mixed grass prairie on sand dunes Large array of plant and animal life Home to 314 animal species-deer, coyotes red

foxes, wild turkeys, bats and fishes Thousands of ponds and lakes Sandy soil= no crops Cattle ranching area Covers 1/4 of Nebraska Part of the Great Plains

Sand hillsSand hills

SandhillsSandhills

sandhillssandhills

Sleeping Bear DunesLake Michigan

Sleeping Bear DunesLake Michigan

Enormous piles of sand and gravel left behind by the glaciers

Today these sand dunes are tourist destinations for swimming, boating and other water activities on Lake Michigan

Long ago one really big sand dune was shaped like a sleeping bear. That’s how the park got its name.

Enormous piles of sand and gravel left behind by the glaciers

Today these sand dunes are tourist destinations for swimming, boating and other water activities on Lake Michigan

Long ago one really big sand dune was shaped like a sleeping bear. That’s how the park got its name.

Sleeping Bear DunesSleeping Bear Dunes

Sleeping Bear DunesSleeping Bear Dunes

Sleeping bear dunesSleeping bear dunes

The BadlandsThe Badlands

Located in South Dakota Landforms are sharp and jagged Deep gullies, or long narrow ditches have

been cut into the landscape Very dry, little plant or animal life Native American named it “badlands”

because it was so hard to cross

Located in South Dakota Landforms are sharp and jagged Deep gullies, or long narrow ditches have

been cut into the landscape Very dry, little plant or animal life Native American named it “badlands”

because it was so hard to cross

The BadlandsThe BadlandsThe Badlands

The BadlandsThe Badlands

The CavesThe Caves

Wind Cave Over 90 miles of passage ways have been

explored in this cave Temperature inside cave is around 53 degrees Wind can reach 70 miles per hour

Jewel Cave One of the longest cave systems -over

110 miles Crystal “jewels” on the walls of the cave

Wind Cave Over 90 miles of passage ways have been

explored in this cave Temperature inside cave is around 53 degrees Wind can reach 70 miles per hour

Jewel Cave One of the longest cave systems -over

110 miles Crystal “jewels” on the walls of the cave

Wind cave National ParkWind cave National Park

Wind caveWind cave

Wind cave box work Wind cave box work

Onondaga Cave-lily padsOnondaga Cave-lily padsOnondaga Cave

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Monument is carved into the Black Hills of South Dakota

Four faces are presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln

George Washington’s head is 60 feet high The monument was completed in1941. It

took 14 years to carve.

Monument is carved into the Black Hills of South Dakota

Four faces are presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln

George Washington’s head is 60 feet high The monument was completed in1941. It

took 14 years to carve.

Mount RushmoreMount Rushmore

Crazy Horse MemorialBlack Hills, South Dakota

Crazy Horse MemorialBlack Hills, South Dakota

A memorial to honor the great Lakota chief, Crazy Horse

It is still being carved into the side of the Black Hills

When it is finished it will be the biggest statue in the world. • Arm is as long as a football field• Face is nine stories high

A memorial to honor the great Lakota chief, Crazy Horse

It is still being carved into the side of the Black Hills

When it is finished it will be the biggest statue in the world. • Arm is as long as a football field• Face is nine stories high

Crazy HorseCrazy Horse