Physical Features of the United States
Get ready to explore America's amazing landscape! From towering mountains to mighty rivers, our country has incredible physical features that make it unique and beautiful.
What Are Physical Features?
Physical Features Are Natural Landforms!
Physical features are parts of the Earth's surface that were formed by nature, not built by people. Mountains, rivers, lakes, oceans, plains, and deserts are all physical features!
Types of Physical Features
Let's learn about the different types of physical features you can find across the United States!
Mountains
Very tall landforms that rise high above the surrounding land. They often have rocky peaks and steep sides.
Rivers
Large streams of fresh water that flow across the land toward oceans, lakes, or other rivers.
Lakes
Large bodies of water surrounded by land. Lakes contain fresh water and can be very large or small.
Plains
Large areas of flat or gently rolling land. Plains are often covered with grass and are good for farming.
Deserts
Very dry areas that get little rainfall. Deserts can be hot or cold, but they all have little water.
Coastlines
Where the land meets the ocean. Coastlines can have beaches, cliffs, bays, and harbors.
Famous US Physical Features
The United States has many amazing physical features. Let's learn about some of the most famous ones!
Major Mountain Ranges
Mountains cover about one-fifth of the United States. Here are the major ranges:
Major Rivers
Rivers are like highways of water that flow across our country. Here are some important ones:
The Great Lakes
The five Great Lakes form the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world! Remember them with: HOMES
Explore the Map
Click on different features on the map to learn more about them!
US Physical Features Map
Click a feature to learn more!
Select any orange label on the map above.
Feature Flash Cards
Click the card to see the answer, then click "Next" for a new question!
Matching Game
Match each physical feature to its description. Click a feature, then click the matching description!
Match the Feature!
Features
Descriptions
Geography Explorer Game
Read the clues and guess the physical feature!
What Am I?
I am the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. I am one of the Great Lakes. My name means "great water." What lake am I?
Practice Questions
Test your knowledge of US physical features!
Question 1: What type of physical feature is the Mississippi?
Question 2: Which mountain range is found in the eastern United States?
Question 3: What acronym helps us remember the Great Lakes?
Question 4: What type of land is the Great Plains?
Question 5: Which river carved the Grand Canyon?
Check Your Understanding
What is a physical feature?
Which Great Lake is the largest?
What physical feature gets very little rainfall?
What We Learned
Mountains
Tall landforms like the Rockies and Appalachians
Rivers
Flowing water like the Mississippi and Colorado
Lakes
Bodies of water like the Great Lakes (HOMES!)
Plains
Flat lands like the Great Plains
Deserts
Dry areas like the Mojave Desert
Coasts
Where land meets ocean on three sides of the US
Next Steps
- Practice naming the Great Lakes using HOMES
- Look at a map and find the physical features you learned about
- Ask a family member if they have ever visited any of these features
- Draw your own map of the United States with physical features labeled