Transcript Rocks Rock!
Rocks Rock! Learn about some of the most famous rocks in the United States. FAMOUS MOUNTAINS The Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains… • …run through 14 states from Maine in the north to Georgia in the south (but not Ohio). • The highest peak is Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina. It is 6,684 feet high. That’s more than a mile! The Appalachian Mountains • …contain 2 major habitats: river and forest. • …are made up mostly of layers of shale, sandstone and limestone. The Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains… • …form the continental divide that separates North America into 2 parts. • …have peaks over 14,000 feet high. That’s almost 3 miles! The Rocky Mountains… • …have 3 major habitats: lake, forest and tundra • …are made up mostly of layers of shale, sandstone and limestone. Think about it… • The Appalachian Mountains are older than the Rocky Mountains. Any idea why? A FAMOUS CANYON (It’s really, really big!) The Grand Canyon A word about the word GRAND • GRAND appears in more languages than just English. • In French, Spanish and Italian, GRAND means BIG. The Grand Canyon… • • • • …is located in northwestern Arizona. …is 277 miles long and 7 miles wide. …has walls over a mile high. …contains 3 different habitats: river, desert and forest. • …is made up mostly of layers of shale, sandstone and limestone. How did the Grand Canyon get so grand? • EROSION! – wearing away slowly over time • The Colorado River, at the bottom of the Canyon, has carved the canyon over the past 5 to 6 million years. How do we know the age of the Grand Canyon? • Geologists have studied the different layers of rock that make up the canyon walls. • Geologists have found fossils between the layers that date back millions of years. FAMOUS ROCK MONUMENTS Mt. Rushmore Do you recognize these men? GEORGE WASHINGTON THOMAS JEFFERSON THEODORE ROOSEVELT ABRAHAM LINCOLN Mt. Rushmore… • …is located in the southwestern part of South Dakota. • …is 5,700 feet tall (more than a mile). • …is made of granite, a very hard rock. Carving Mt. Rushmore • It took 14 years, many carvers and a lot of dynamite to carve the faces into Mt. Rushmore. • Each face is about 60 feet tall! • George Washington’s nose alone is 20 feet tall! • Click here to learn more. Speaking of George Washington… The Washington Monument The Washington Monument is in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. The Washington Monument is… • …555 feet tall. • …made of marble and granite. – Marble is very hard and very expensive. • ...opened in 1888. • …very skinny. There are 896 steps to the top but only one elevator. Physical or Human Features? Physical Appalachian Mountains Rocky Mountains X X Grand Canyon X Mt. Rushmore X Washington Monument Human X X Rock Height Comparison 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 Feet High Appalachian Mountains Rocky Mountains Grand Canyon Mt. Rushmore Washington Monument 6,700 14,000 9,000 5,700 555