<p><em>Topography</em> probably the most distinctive characteristic defining a physiographic province.  Each physiographic province has a topographic character that is generally defined.  This does not mean the topography is all the same; there can be variation.  For instance, the Colorado Plateau has higher-elevation mesas with intermediate to lower elevation valleys. Geologically, these features are distinctive and similar. But the Colorado Plateau also has mountains - The San Juan Mountains - bordering on the southeast of the province.  These mountains are all distinctive Tertiary volcanoes, some of relatively immense proportions.  The only east-west mountain range in the United States is found on the northern boundary of the province.  These are the Uinta Mountains.  Rivers are typically in deep canyons; think Goose Necks of the San Juan.</p>
<p>A comparison with the Rocky Mountains shows the mountains and upland areas are largely supported by granite.  The mountains are formed from granite ranges flanked by sedimentary rocks.  Rivers are formed in steep, upland glaciated valleys.</p>
<p>At the eastern edge of the Rockies is seen the expansive Great Plains province, a place of completely different typography.  The Great Plains province has flat, gentle, rolling typography, with grasslands and broad river valleys.</p>
<p>These are just some examples, without laboring the point.  Each province has its own distinctive typography.  A good place to look is the Cascade Ranges province. What is the distinctive topographic feature there? (Answer: Typically active volcanoes, such as Lassen Peak in California, or Mount Rainier, Washington, all consequent to the subduction of the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate.)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-25T04:27:16.623Z
2021-11-25T04:27:16.623Z
Thomas Perry
<p>Wikipedia describes a concept called &quot;physiographic provinces&quot;. If I understand right, geologists simply created lines on a map, to create clusters of places that are geologically similar.</p>
<p>What I see missing from any articles on physiographic provinces, is what were the characteristics used to define any particular &quot;physiographic province&quot;. I am a secondary teacher and need to teach and prepare curriculum about the provinces that my state falls in, so I think if I knew what kinds of characteristics geologists looked at to create each province, I'd know which characteristics to teach the students about.</p>
<p>Is there a list of characteristics that were used to create these groups of provinces?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-11-23T09:16:44.697Z
Could you provide examples for provinces, both as determined by physiography and geology?
Erik
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2021-11-23T13:02:28.023Z
WIkipedia has a list here of the US physiographic provinces: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physiographic_regions_of_the_United_States
Village
<geology><geography><terminology>
What characteristics are considered when distinguishing a place based on physiographic provinces?
Village
# What characteristics are considered when distinguishing a place based on physiographic provinces?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-11-22)

Wikipedia describes a concept called "physiographic provinces". If I understand right, geologists simply created lines on a map, to create clusters of places that are geologically similar.

What I see missing from any articles on physiographic provinces, is what were the characteristics used to define any particular "physiographic province". I am a secondary teacher and need to teach and prepare curriculum about the provinces that my state falls in, so I think if I knew what kinds of characteristics geologists looked at to create each province, I'd know which characteristics to teach the students about.

Is there a list of characteristics that were used to create these groups of provinces?

**Tags:** geology, geography, terminology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Could you provide examples for provinces, both as determined by physiography and geology?  
> **username_0**: WIkipedia has a list here of the US physiographic provinces: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physiographic_regions_of_the_United_States  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-11-25. Score: 1

*Topography* probably the most distinctive characteristic defining a physiographic province. Each physiographic province has a topographic character that is generally defined. This does not mean the topography is all the same; there can be variation. For instance, the Colorado Plateau has higher-elevation mesas with intermediate to lower elevation valleys. Geologically, these features are distinctive and similar. But the Colorado Plateau also has mountains - The San Juan Mountains - bordering on the southeast of the province. These mountains are all distinctive Tertiary volcanoes, some of relatively immense proportions. The only east-west mountain range in the United States is found on the northern boundary of the province. These are the Uinta Mountains. Rivers are typically in deep canyons; think Goose Necks of the San Juan.

A comparison with the Rocky Mountains shows the mountains and upland areas are largely supported by granite. The mountains are formed from granite ranges flanked by sedimentary rocks. Rivers are formed in steep, upland glaciated valleys.

At the eastern edge of the Rockies is seen the expansive Great Plains province, a place of completely different typography. The Great Plains province has flat, gentle, rolling typography, with grasslands and broad river valleys.

These are just some examples, without laboring the point. Each province has its own distinctive typography. A good place to look is the Cascade Ranges province. What is the distinctive topographic feature there? (Answer: Typically active volcanoes, such as Lassen Peak in California, or Mount Rainier, Washington, all consequent to the subduction of the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate.)


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