The United States is the third largest country in the world! This means that there is lots of land with lots of different environments to explore. Let’s follow Lucia as she explores the United States!

Let’s look at our home state! Florida is home to a lot of ecosystems like the Keys. The Keys are small islands with lots of different birds, fish, and trees called mangroves.”

The Florida Everglades are marshes, large grassy areas that are often covered with water. Endangered leatherback turtles, Florida panthers, and alligators call the Everglades home.

The marshes in Georgia and South Carolina are salt marshes, meaning that they are filled with salty, ocean water. Lots of fish and sea creatures such as shrimp, crabs, oysters, and mussels live in the water in these wet, grassy areas.

In Louisiana, there are many bayous or slow-moving rivers. This region is also home to the Mississippi River, the second longest river in the United States. It flows from Minnesota in the north to Louisiana, where it flows into the ocean near the city of New Orleans.

The coast of the Northeast United States borders the Atlantic Ocean. When the waves crash against the land, they cause the rocks to erode or wear down, forming large cliffs.

The Great Plains are known for the grassy prairies that cover the region. There are very few trees or mountains in the Great Plains. Animals such as buffalos or bison, prairie dogs, and jackrabbits live in the plains.

Did you know that there are volcanoes in the West? Mount St. Helens, Yosemite, and Mount Rainier are three of the active volcanoes in the West. Ash from Mount St. Helens most recent eruption traveled over 2,000 miles and was even found in Oklahoma! The West is also home to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin Desert, and the Bridger-Teton National Forest.