How do the barriers posed by high mountains influence ...

[mckennatimberlake]

How do the barriers posed by high mountains influence precipitation patterns on the windward side as compared to the leeward side of a range?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What are some examples that illustrate the relationship between topographic barriers and human settlement on the North American continent during the Euro-American era?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[JaynaD87]

Answer to Question 1

The windward side of a mountain range experiences orographic precipitation and the leeward side is in the rain shadow, so precipitation levels are much lower.

Answer to Question 2

The pattern of cities located along the fall line to the east of the Appalachians is an example of how the limits of navigable rivers and the location of waterfalls provided an ideal location for early settlements. Another example is the gap in the Appalachians in which the Erie Canal was built, linking the Hudson River with Lake Erie.