The Eastern Woodlands Indians received their name from the region they inhabited, which was characterized by its extensive woodlands. The Eastern Woodlands cultural area encompass a vast territory that stretched from the Atlantic coast to the Great Plains and from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. This region was heavily forested, with a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees, and it provided the Native American tribes who lived there with an abundance of resources for food, shelter, and other necessities. The Eastern Woodlands Indians' way of life was closely intertwined with the forest environment, and their culture developed in adaptation to the resources and challenges it presented.