The 7 Megaregions
of Modern America
Welcome to the Seven Megaregions of Modern America! America used to be known as the United States, named after 50 states each with their own government. As cities grew and people spread out more, seven larger areas emerged, each with common industry and identity. Explore the map to find out more about each Megaregion!
Pacific Coast
Computer Technology
Computer technology is the way that computers are used to help with any type of job or task. Computer technology is important to many things that happen around us every day, including travel, entertainment, healthcare and science.
The Orca
Orcas are very social animals that live together in family groups called pods. They eat fish and other smaller marine mammals. They communicate with vocal sounds that are unique to their pod and passed down through generations.
Earthquakes
Earthquakes are the shaking, rolling or sudden shock of the earth’s surface. They are the Earth's natural means of releasing stress. Earthquakes can be felt over large areas although they usually last less than one minute.
Inland West
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is power that is collected from renewable resources, which are available in large amounts all the time, like sunlight, wind, and geothermal heat. Wind energy is the cleanest of all renewable energy sources, meaning it create the least amount of pollution.
The Grizzly
The Grizzly Bear is the second largest bear in the world, after the Polar Bear. Grizzlys have front claws from 2-4 inches long. While Grizzlys are omnivores, which mean they eat a mixture of plants and animals, they eat mostly fruits and vegetables.
Wildfires
A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire often occurring in wildland areas, but which can also consume houses or agricultural resources. Wildfires often begin unnoticed, but they spread quickly igniting brush, trees and homes.
Great Plains
Agriculture
Agriculture is the science of farming. This includes making sure that soil is healthy, growing crops, and raising animals. The plants and animals grown through agriculture provide food and other materials used in everyday life.
The Bison
Bison are large and shaggy and, despite their size, can run very fast- up to 40mph! Their sharp horns can grow up to 2 feet long. They usually live in separate smaller groups of males and females that come together during the summer for breeding season.
Tornados
A tornado is a rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. The fastest tornados reach wind speeds of up to 300 mph. They can destroy large buildings, uproot trees and hurl vehicles hundreds of yards. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide to 50 miles long.
Great Lakes
Engineering
Engineering is science and technology related to the design, building, and use of engines, machines, and structures. Engineers are essential to many industries, including automotive (car) engineering.
The Lake Sturgeon
The Lake Sturgeon is a bottom feeding fresh-water fish. It has tastebuds around its vacuum like mouth. It has boney plates that form ridges on its back and sides that look like armor. They can grow up to 7.25 feet long and weigh up to 240 pounds.
Blizzards
A blizzard is a long-lasting snowstorm with very strong winds and intense snowfall. Blizzards get energy from the meeting of two air masses of different temperatures and moisture levels. The point where these two air masses meet is called a front.
Great Northeast
Urbanization
Urbanization happens when people move to towns and cities causing them to grow in population. As more people move to a central area, the areas become more connected by roads and other systems. As the systems grow they become more intricate and complicated.
The Squirrel
Squirrels are small rodents. Their sense of vision is very strong, and they have versatile, sturdy claws that help them climb trees. Squirrels have special ankle joints on their hind legs that allow them to climb down trees head first.
Thunderstorms
A thunderstorm is a storm with lightning and thunder. Its produced by a certain type of cloud called a cumulonimbus cloud, usually producing gusty winds, heavy rain and sometimes hail. Thunderstorms are most common in Spring and Summer but can happen at any time.
Southeast MF Belt
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is when many of the same thing are made at once using machinery. This can happen in factories. When parts of the process are split up into smaller tasks, it can make the whole process go faster and cost less than if each item were made one by one.
The Anole
Anoles are small, territorial lizards that can change color from dark brown to bright green allowing them to camouflage in the forest. They have long tails that account for over half of their body length. They eat insects, other bugs and grubs.
Cicada Swarms
Cicada swarms occur during the mating periods of the cicada, which live almost all of their 13- or 17-year lives underground. When they emerge from the ground to mate, they make significant noise and fly into everything but are not directly harmful to humans.
Gulf Coast
Fracking
Fracking is a method to access oil or gas from the ground. It works by injecting liquid at a high pressure into small cracks or holes in the ground to open them up more. The oil and gas are then used for energy.
The Alligator
Alligators up to 16 feet long and can weigh up to 1,320 pounds. They are predators that eat all kinds of animals including fish, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. The alligator has the strongest documented bite of any animal in the world.
Hurricanes
A hurricane is a large storm that can be up to 600 miles across and have strong winds spiraling inward and upward at speeds of 75 to 200 mph. Hurricanes gather heat and energy through contact with warm ocean waters. When they come onto land, the heavy rain, strong winds and large waves can damage buildings, trees and cars.