The Central Plains is a region located in the center of North America. It is a low-lying relief composed of different types of plains: moraine, lake, loess and sandra. In the northeast, they border the Appalachian mountain system, in the southeast - on the Lavrentian Upland. The southern border reaches the Prime Mexican lowland. In the north they encounter Great patches of land.
Plains stretch across the United States and Canada. Here you can find large agglomerations that are known for their rural economic activities. This area is very well developed. This is facilitated by both relief and climatic conditions. 75% of the entire territory goes to settlements and fields. The most famous city located here is Chicago. So, let's take a closer look at the features of this territory.
Features and topography of the Central Plains
The average height of the Central Plains is 150-500 m. They are composed of rocks of the Upper and Lower Paleozoic period, which are located horizontally and partially inclined in the north. In the northeast, where the plains reach the Great Lakes, the terrain is presented in the form of gentle ridges with asymmetric slopes - cuestas. They are composed of Carboniferous, Silurian, and Devonian sediments. The most pronounced cuestas formed by Silurian deposits. At one of them, when it was crossed by the Niagara River, one of the most famous sights of North America - Niagara Falls - was formed.
The central plains are mostly covered by strata of glacial deposits. Below them are the bedrock. This suggests that this territory was repeatedly covered by glaciers, most likely during the Pleistocene.
This area is the most densely populated region of North America. This fact has developed historically. Fertile lands attracted people here, and this region has long been used for agriculture. Currently, more than 90% of all indigenous vegetation is destroyed, and forest-steppes and forests are replaced by cultivated plants.
The central plains have a hilly relief dissected by river valleys. They are composed of sedimentary rocks - limestones. Only in the southern part do stony rocks come to the surface - the Boston Mountains, which are a spur of the Appalachian system. Average heights reach 600-800 m.
Climate
Climatic conditions in the region are changing in the latitudinal direction. It is worth noting that they are quite favorable. A great influence on the formation of climate is exerted by cold and warm currents coming from the Atlantic. Summer in the Central Plains is warm, average temperatures are + 20 ... + 22 ° . In the southern region, the thermometer can rise up to +28 ° . Winter in this region is cold and frosty. Almost throughout the entire period, minus temperatures are kept. The average isotherm of January is -12 ... -16 ° C. The average annual rainfall is 750-900 mm. A significant part of them falls in the summer, but even in winter it often snows, forming a stable snow cover. The Great and Central Plains have a fairly similar climate.
Natural resources
This territory is of great economic importance. On the Central plains deposits of coal, gas and oil were discovered. Salt and barite are also mined here. Coal deposits are located in the northeast, closer to the Appalachian mountain system. And large oil fields are located in the north of the Central Plains.
Flora and fauna
The Central Plains region refers to the zone of deciduous and mixed forests. However, indigenous vegetation has been preserved only in small areas separating agricultural land and pasture. Fields are planted with cereals, corn. Of the representatives of the flora, only rodents are common.
The central plains are the most important agricultural region of the United States. 85% of all agricultural products are produced in this region.