Student Reading 13.10: The Regions of Ohio Ohio has five natural regions which formed more than 10,000 years ago. A natural region is an area that shares the same natural features. These places have similar climate, landforms, and bodies of water. Ohio s regions are the Till Plains, 1
Lake Plains, Glaciated Appalachian Plateau, the Un-glaciated Appalachian Plateau, and the Bluegrass Region. The Till Plains Much of the Till Plains of western Ohio has good soil for farming. Crops include corn, wheat, and soybeans. As the glaciers retreated from Ohio, they left behind deep beds of till, a mixture of sand, gravel, and small rocks, which make soil very rich. These beds of glacial till can be as deep as 400 feet and support important sources of water. The highest point in Ohio (1,549 feet above sea level) is Campbell Hill in Logan County. This region also contains the lowest point in the state (455 feet above sea level), on the banks of the Ohio River near Cincinnati. Major cities in this region include: Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton. 2
The Lake Plains Ohio s flattest lands are in the Lake Plains on the southern shore of Lake Erie. These plains, an area of low, flat lands, were made by very large, glacial-age lakes in the area were Lake Erie is today. The glacial lakes covered much of the (This photograph was taken by the Ohio Department of Agriculture and shows and a barn and greenhouse on the Brigham farm in Bowling Green, Ohio. Courtesy of Ohio Pix.) Great Lakes region, including cast areas that are dry land today. The soils in this region come from deposits laid down in the ancient lake beds. Soils in the western portion of this region are very good for agriculture. Farmers grow soybeans, corn, wheat, apples, and grapes. This region also includes a lot of lowlying, wetlands. This area of northwest Ohio, along the Maumee River, is known 3
as the Black Swamp. Two major cities in the Lake Plain region are Cleveland and Toledo. Glaciated Appalachian Plateau Central and northeastern Ohio is part of Ohio s Glaciated Appalachian Plateau. A plateau is an area of high, flat land. Glaciers flattened this land and left till in the soil, which (This photograph shows employees at hand-operated sheet mills involved in steel production. Courtesy of Ohio Pix.) was good for farming, and pasture land. The land has rolling hills and broad, flat valleys. On this land, Ohioans built factories for industrial work in Akron, Canton, and Youngstown. 4
Un-glaciated Appalachian Plateau The Un-glaciated Appalachian Plateau makes up most of southeastern Ohio. The hilly landscape is covered with trees, and the soil in this region is not good for farming. This region has steep gorges, rivers, and waterfalls. Coal mining, iron, clay, petroleum, natural gas, and forestry are important industries to this region. Hocking Hills State Park is located in this region as well as Marietta. (A photograph of the Ash Cave area at the Hocking Hills State Park in Hocking Country, Ohio. Courtesy of Ohio Pix.) 5
The Bluegrass Region The Bluegrass Region, also known as the Lexington Plain, located in southern Ohio, is the smallest of all the regions. The soil has limestone and shale and is good for farming. However, the hilly terrain leads to problems with erosion. Tobacco grows well in this region. This region is also home to wild turkeys, wood rats, salamanders, and blue butterflies. Due to the number of regions (A picture of an Ohio turkey. Courtesy of Ohio Pix.) with good soil, along with the forest and wildlife, Ohio has been a comfortable place for people to live for the last 13,000 years. 6
Reading Comprehension Questions Name 1. Which of the following does not grow in the Glaciated Appalachian Plateau? a. Grapes b. Maple Syrup c. Tomatoes d. Wheat 2. The Lake Plain Region is located in Ohio and spreads from southward. 3. A is an area of high, flat land. 4. An area of low, flat land is known as the. 7