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Major US Rivers

An interactive map exploring the great rivers that shaped American history and geography.

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About This MicroSim

Explore six major US rivers:

  • Mississippi - Longest river, drains 31 states
  • Missouri - Lewis and Clark's route west
  • Colorado - Carved the Grand Canyon
  • Columbia - Most powerful by water volume
  • Ohio - Major Mississippi tributary
  • Rio Grande - Texas-Mexico border

How to Use

  1. Click on any river line to see detailed information
  2. Blue rivers are part of the Mississippi system
  3. Green rivers flow to other destinations
  4. Quiz Me! to test your river knowledge

Key Concepts Demonstrated

  • Rivers flow from high elevations to the ocean
  • The Mississippi system drains most of the central US
  • Rivers have been critical for transportation and agriculture
  • River systems connect multiple states

Lesson Plan

Learning Objective: Students will identify major US rivers and describe their significance.

Bloom's Taxonomy Level: Remember/Understand (L1/L2)

Activities:

  1. Trace the Flow (5 min): Follow each river from source to mouth
  2. Explore Facts (5 min): Click each river and read about its importance
  3. Quiz (7 min): Answer 5 questions about US rivers

Technical Notes

  • Built with Leaflet.js
  • Rivers drawn as polylines with approximate coordinates
  • Mississippi system highlighted in blue
  • Rivers
  • Water Features
  • Physical Maps
  • US Regions