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, lacustrine, loess and outwash. In the northeast they border on the Appalachian mountain system, in the southeast - on the Laurentian Upland. The southern border reaches the Mexican lowland. Face the Great Lands to the north.
The plains stretch across the US 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 under 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 relief of the Central Plains
Average height of Centerplains 150-500 m. They are composed of rocks of the Upper and Lower Paleozoic period, which are located horizontally and partly 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 asymmetrical slopes - cuestas. They are composed of Carboniferous, Silurian and Devonian deposits. The most pronounced cuestas formed by the Silurian deposits. On one of them, when crossing it with the Niagara River, one of the most famous sights of North America, Niagara Falls, was formed.
The central plains are mostly covered with strata of glacial deposits. Beneath them are bedrock. This suggests that this area was repeatedly covered by glaciers, most likely during the Pleistocene period.
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 Currently, more than 90% of all indigenous vegetation has been destroyed, and forest-steppes and forests have been replaced by cultivated plants.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, 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 change in the latitudinal direction. Worth notingthat they are quite favorable. Cold and warm currents coming from the Atlantic have a great influence on climate formation. Summer on the territory of the Central Plains is warm, average temperatures are +20…+22 °С. In the southern region, the thermometer can rise to +28 °C. Winters in this region are cold and frosty. Sub-zero temperatures remain almost throughout the entire period. The average January isotherm is -12…-16 °C. The average annual rainfall is 750-900 mm. A significant part of them falls in summer, but it often snows in winter, forming a stable snow cover. The Great and Central Plains have fairly similar climates.
Natural resources
This area is of great economic importance. Deposits of coal, gas and oil have been discovered in the Central Plains. S alt 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.
Plant and animal life
The Central Plains region belongs to the zone of deciduous and mixed forests. However, the indigenous vegetation has survived only in small areas separating agricultural land and pastures. The fields are planted with cereals and corn. Of the representatives of the flora, only rodents are common.
The Central Plains is the most important agro-industrial region of the United States. 85% of all agricultural products are produced in this region.
