The Essential Geography of the USA could just as well be called the Essential GeographIES of the USA. That's because wherever your eyes fall, you can explore a clear depiction of local geography.
For example, when your eyes fall on Scottsbluff, Nebraska, here is what you can explore:
Scottsbluff, elev. 3885 ft, sits on the north bank of the North Platte River, with Gering across the North Platte to the south. The setting is open (not forested) land in the zone where the angular landforms of the American West transform into the smooth landforms of the Great Plains. Northeast of Scottsbluff, the north slope of Pine Ridge supports a forest; the Sandhills roll off to the east; south, Nebraska tops out at 5424 ft Panorama Pt; and west in Wyoming, the Laramie Mtns climb to over 10,000 ft. Nearby, Scotts Bluff Nat’l Monument and Chimney Rock Nat’l Historic Site recall historic wagon trails, while US Hwy 26 is the main route through town.
Want to explore Scottsbluff's regional settling? Located due south of the Black Hills, Scottsbluff is in Mountain Time. Down the Platte at its confluence with the Missouri, Omaha sits 2800 ft lower in elevation. Closer to Scottsbluff in both distance and elevation, Denver, Colorado anchors an urban corridor at the foot of the Rockies.
Exploration, like this, enriches our lives with an appreciation of the basic characteristics that make each American town unique in all of the world. And, there are thousand of cities and towns, rivers and landforms, landmarks and regions to explore on the Essential Geography of the USA.