Part 6. Inland Waters

The longest river in the United States (and the longest in the world) is the Mississippi with its west tributary Missouri. The other main tributary of the Mississippi, flowing into it from the east, is the Ohio River. The Mississippi flows to the south and empties into the Gulf of Mexico at New Orleans.

Another important river of the United States is the Hudson River which flows across the north-eastern part of the country and empties into the Atlantic Ocean at New York.

The rivers in the west of the country are unsuitable for navigation because they flow through deep canyons and are cut by numerous rapids, which fact, however, makes them a good source of electric power. These rivers start in the Cordilleras and empty into the Pacific Ocean. The largest among them are the Columbia River and the Colorado River.

World-famous is the region of the Great Lakes, situated in the north-east of the United States bordering Canada. It is a system of five great lakes (Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontarion) joined together by natural channels. The Hiagara Falls, great rapids situated on the short Niagara River joining Lakes Erie and Ontarion, are famous all over the world and attract lots of tourists. The waters of the Five Great Lakes have their outlet into the Atlantic Ocean by the St.Lawrence River, flowing mostly across the territory of Canada.

QUESTIONS.

1. Which is the longest river in the United States? How long is it? Which are its main tributaries?

2. Where is the Hudson River?

3. Why are the rivers in the West unsuitable for navigation? Which are the largest of them?

4. Where are the Great Lakes situated? Name all the five lakes.

5. Where are the Niagara Falls – between which two lakes?

6. The waters of the Five Great Lakes have their outlet into the Atlantic Ocean, don’t they? How?