Geology of National Parks 1/19/2023
Topography- study of earth’s surface, involves the recording of relief or
terrain and identification and characterization of specific landforms.
Relief- corresponds to the variable elevation (or inequalities) in the land
surface.
Continental divide- line drawn on a map that forms a boundary between
two large land areas such as precipitation falling on one side eventually
drains to one body of water (ocean). Some are not as steep, but instead flat.
Louisiana Purchase in 1803- part of Red River drainage, treaty in 1818
border of Canada and US.
1. Hudson’s Bay Divide
2. Atlantic-Pacific Divide along I-40, near Gallup, NM
3. Atlantic-Pacific Divide along US-50, central CO
Drainage basin: extent of land in which rain or snow melt drains downhill
into a body of water – such as a river, lake, wetland, sea, or ocean.
Adjacent drainage basins are separated from each other by drainage
divides, which are lines drawn on a map.
Watershed- area of land that is drained by a single major river and its
tributary streams. The combined flow from several watersheds constitutes a
drainage basin.
Adjacent watersheds are separated from each other by interfluves, which
are lines drawn on a map.
Physiographic Province- geographic region in which the geology and
climate have given rise to an array of landforms that are similar in character
and origin, which differ significantly from the landform patterns in adjacent
regions.
