Physical Geography
Select from the menu on the left to learn more about the physical geography of the CARA region. The combinations of different natural regions creates interplay between land uses, ecosystems, and issues of concern in the face of a changing climate. Below, explore the physical geography of the CARA region state by state.
A closer look - a brief physical geography of each CARA state:
Connecticut
Connecticut is home to several harbors and its coastline is characterized by rocky inlets, estuaries, sandy beaches, and tidal marshes. Though the soil in the state is predominantly thin, rocky, and infertile, the river valleys have deeper loamy soils. More than half the state is covered by forests of varied tree species inlcuding hemlock, pine, oak, hickory, sugar maple, and ash. The summers are typically long and hot, with cold winters.
Delaware
The second smallest state in the country, Delaware is predominantly coastal plain and piedmont. Along the Delaware River and Delaware Bay there are vast salt water marshes while the more southerly coast is mostly sand dunes and sandy beaches. Delaware and Chesapeake Bays are joined by the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. Delaware's summers are hot and humid while the winters are mild.
Maryland
The state of Maryland is divided by the Chesapeake Bay into two sections. Almost all of the state's rivers drain into the Chesapeake Bay or directly into the Atlantic Ocean. Salt marshes and lagoons give way to sandy beaches along the coast. While the Eastern Shore and surrounding lowland areas experience hot and humid summers with mildly cool winters, more western points in the state have colder, longer winters and shorter, cooler summers. The majority of Maryland's forests are hardwoods.
Massachusetts
Once covered by glaciers, the physical geography of Massachusetts is reminescent of its past. Glacial deposits, rounded off mountains, and hundreds of ponds and lakes now cover the landscape. Alluvial deposits make the Connecticut River region agriculturally fertile. The coastline has several bays including Cape Cod Bay. Martha's Vineyard is the largest of many islands found off the coast of Massachusetts.
New Jersey
New Jersey has a section of Appalachian Ridge and Valley in the northwestern corner of the state, a section of Highlands, piedmont, and coastal plain. The Highland is characterized by areas of narrow valleys and flat-topped ridges. The majority of the state's most populous cities are found within the piedmont area. The inner coastal plain is quite fertile and the outer coastal plain has lagoons, salt marshes, and sandbars. New Jersey has hot, humid summers and cold winters.
New York
The largest state in the CARA study region, New York exhibits diverse physical characteristics from coastal plains and piedmonts to ridge and valley and plateaus. The soils in the state are not ideal for agriculture, but some more fertile areas have been heavily cultivated. Two of the Great Lakes, Erie and Ontario, border the state. Many lakes resulting from glacial activity provide the state with reservoirs for water supply and flood control. The climate of New York varies due to topography, proximity to water bodies, and terrain. Broadly, the climate is humid with warm summers and cold winters.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has a very small portion of coastal plain in the southeastern corner of the state where Philadelphia is located. The piedmont area immediately west of that is home to the state's most productive farming areas. From there, ridge and valley occupies much of the central portion of the state followed by plateau and mountains. Differences in altitude influence the climate of Pennsylvania. Summers are fairly humid and warm, while winters are cold. This varies substantially depending on location. Once mostly forested, Pennsylvania was a major player in the logging industry for many years, and as a result, the forest that exists today is primarily second or third growth.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island is the smallest state in the country, only about 40 miles wide at its widest point. With a wet climate, Rhode Island's temperatures are heavily influence by the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the country's soils, though not terrible for agricultural purposes, are found on steep slopes inhospitable to agriculture. Similar to surrounding states, Rhode Island has many small ponds and lakes formed with the retreat of glaciers. While there is not much agriculture in this state, what does occur there is focused around Narragansett Bay.