U.S. Geography: Water & Climate

U.S. Geography: Water & Climate

By Cory Rayhill

Open Ended

If a raindrop falls on the Rocky Mountains, where does it go?

The North American Continental Divide is an imaginary line that runs through the Rocky Mountains and separates the way water flows across the continent. On one side of the divide, rivers and streams flow toward the Pacific Ocean, while on the other side, they flow toward the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. It is like a giant rooftop, where rainwater falling on one side goes one way, and water on the other side goes a different way. The Continental Divide is important because it helps shape rivers, lakes, and ecosystems across North America!

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Contiental Divide

Multiple Choice

What is the main purpose of the North American Continental Divide?

• To separate the United States from Canada

• To determine which way water flows across the continent

• To divide the land into different time zones

Indiana Watershed

A watershed is an area of land where all the water—whether from rain, snow, or streams—flows into the same larger body of water, like a river, lake, or ocean. Watersheds are important because they provide drinking water, support wildlife, and help prevent flooding by directing water naturally through the land. In Indiana, most of the state is part of the Mississippi River Basin, which drains into the Gulf of Mexico. In Southern Indiana, water flows into the Ohio River Watershed, which collects water from smaller rivers and streams like the White River and Blue River before emptying into the Ohio River. The Ohio River then carries this water into the Mississippi River, showing how smaller watersheds connect to larger ones. Understanding watersheds helps us protect water quality and manage resources wisely.

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes how watersheds work in Southern Indiana?

• Water from Southern Indiana drains into the Ohio River, which flows into the Mississippi River.

• Watersheds in Southern Indiana do not connect to any major rivers.

• Water from Southern Indiana flows into the Atlantic Ocean through the Great Lakes.

Open Ended

Imagine a heavy rainstorm on a hill—where do you think all that water goes? How does it travel, and what might happen to it as it moves through the land, rivers, and lakes?