GEOGRAPHY OF THE WEST

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1 GEOGRAPHY OF THE WEST ROCKIES TO THE PACIFIC The Rocky Mountains run through North America from north to south. They mark the end of the Midwest and the beginning of the West. MOUNTAINS AND MORE The Rocky Mountains are among the highest mountains in North America. An imaginary line runs north and south along their peaks. This line is called the Continental Divide. All rivers to the east of this line flow toward the Atlantic Ocean. All rivers west of this line flow toward the Pacific Ocean. To the west of the Rockies, the Great Basin forms a huge desert. The Columbia Plateau lies to its north. The Colorado Plateau lies to its south. Farther west are mountain ranges that run parallel to the Pacific coast. They include the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade and Coast Ranges. Alaska and Hawaii have mountains, as well. HIGHS AND LOWS The highest land and the lowest land in the United States are both in the West. The highest is the 20,320 foot peak of Alaska s Mount McKinley. It is also known as Denali, which means the great one in a Native American language. Mount McKinley in Alaska The lowest is 282 feet below sea level in Death Valley, California. Death Valley, California

2 BIG CHANGES Long ago, changes happening deep inside Earth formed mountains in the West. The same kinds of changes are still going on today. FIERY MOUNTAINS Some of the West s mountains are volcanoes. A volcano is a mountain formed when erupted lava cools and hardens onto Earth s surface. Lava is melted rock. A bowl-shaped area called a crater can form at the volcano s top. Most volcanoes in the West are in states that border the Pacific Ocean. These include Mauna Loa (MOW*nah*LOH*uh) in Hawaii, Mount Rainier in Washington, and Mount Hood in Oregon. Pacific Ocean. This is because the rock layers under the Pacific Ocean move against those of our continent. CLIMATE The West s climate varies. It ranges from the heat of the California desert to the frozen land of northern Alaska. MOUNTAINS AFFECT CLIMATE Like other regions, the West has a warmer climate in the south than in the north. Its many tall mountains also affect its climate. As elevation increases, the temperature drops. A warm, rainy day in a valley may be a cold, snowy day on a nearby peak. Mauna Loa in Hawaii SHAKY GROUND Changes inside Earth can also cause earthquakes. An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the ground. This movement occurs along faults cracks in Earth s outer layer. Small movements along faults can cause earthquakes that people do not feel. Large movements can damage entire cities or even larger areas. Like volcanoes, most earthquakes in the West occur in states that border the SETTING RECORDS The West s geography creates extreme climates. Death Valley is not only the country s lowest land but also its driest and hottest. Its average rainfall is less than two inches. The highest temperature ever recorded there was 134 degrees Fahrenheit in In contrast, the coldest temperature ever recorded in the United States was 80 degree Fahrenheit below zero at Prospect Creek, Alaska. In the country s rainiest place, Mount Waialeale in Hawaii (wy*ah*lay*ah*lay), it rains about 335 days a year.

3 NATURAL RESOURCES A variety of natural resources can be found in the West. These resources include its land, forests, minerals, fuels, water, and fish. LAND Much of the land in the West is either too mountainous or too dry for farming. However, states along the Pacific coast have huge agricultural industries. California has long been the nation s leading agricultural state. Most of the state s crops are grown on irrigated land. Farmers in Oregon produce a variety of crops. These crops include grains, vegetables, and fruits. Washington is the nation s leading producer of apples. Driving through a Redwood tree in California WATER Although the West includes a lot of dry areas, the region has several major rivers. These include the Missouri, the Colorado, the Columbia, and many smaller rivers. Great Salt Lake, in Utah, is the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi River. The coastal waters of the northern Pacific Ocean are rich in fish and shellfish, including salmon, flounder, tuna, crabs, oysters, and clams. Washington Apples In the flatter, drier parts of states, such as in Montana and Wyoming, ranching is important. Ranchers in the region raise mostly cattle and sheep. On the mountain slopes in the West, huge forests of pine, spruce, and fir grow. As in other regions, people harvest these trees to make lumber and paper products. In central California, giant trees called sequoias grow. Redwoods, the tallest living trees, grow near the coast from central California to southern Oregon. Many redwoods are more than 300 feet tall! King Crab caught in Alaska

4 MOUNTAIN STATES The Mountain states cover a large region. These states include Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. Mountains bring challenges to the people living there. Mountain areas have limited space for people to build cities. So, the Mountain states have few large cities. Official Hollywood Sign in California Los Angeles is the center of the nation s entertainment industry. Companies there produce music, movies, television programs, and other forms of entertainment. PACIFIC STATES The Pacific states are California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii. California has the largest population of any state in the nation. CALIFORNIA Today, more than 35 million people live in California. In fact, about one of every eight Americans live there. California s population is one of the most diverse in the world. People from Asia, South America, Mexico, and many other places call California home. Hispanics make up about one-third of the state s population. California has a diverse economy. It is the nation s leading agricultural producer. It grows about half of all the fruits, vegetables and nuts sold in the United States. California also leads all other states in manufacturing. The state s top manufacturing industries include aerospace equipment and computers. PACIFIC NORTHWEST Oregon and Washington are located in the Pacific Northwest. These states share many features. Most people in Washington and Oregon live and work in metropolitan areas. Seattle is Washington s largest city and major port. Several large corporations have their headquarters in the Seattle metropolitan area. Their businesses include insurance, computer, and wood products. One is the world s largest software company, APPLE, which was cofounded by Bill Gates. Port of Seattle, Washington

5 ALASKA Canada separates Alaska from the 48 other states that are on the North American continent. NATIVE AMERICANS About one in seven Alaskans is Native American, from groups such as the Aleut, the Inuit, or the Yupik. Many Native Americans follow both old and new ways of life. For example, a person may work as a teacher and practice traditional fishing and hunting methods. THE LARGEST STATE Alaska is the largest state. It makes up one-sixth of all the land in the United States. This rugged land has no large cities and very few roads. In fact, even Juneau, the state s capital, is not connected by roads to other cities. Due to the cold and snow, many Alaskans travel by plane, boat, train, snowmobile, and dogsled. For school, some children take classes on the Internet instead of traveling to a school. OIL AND FISHING Oil and fishing are Alaska s main industries. Oil flows through an 800 mile pipeline from Prudhoe Bay on the Arctic Ocean to the port of Valdez on the Gulf of Alaska. Fishers catch salmon, crabs, halibut, and herring. Alaskan Oil Rig Inuit Man with his Dogs HAWAII Hawaii is a group of islands, or archipelago (ar*kuh*peh*luh*goh). These volcanic islands are known for their warm climate and their beauty. THE ISLAND STATE Hawaii lies near the middle of the Pacific Ocean, between North America and Asia. Because of this location, Hawaii is called the Crossroads of the Pacific. A crossroads is a place that connects people, goods, and ideas. Today, native Hawaiians make up only a small part of the state s population. In fact, about four of every ten Hawaiians have an Asian background. Still, the people

6 of Hawaii continue the islands heritage, or ways of life passed down. Hawaii is the only state with two official languages English and Hawaiian. Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, is the state s capital, largest city, and center of industry. Most of the people in Honolulu, and in the rest of the state, work in the tourism industry. People also grow crops and work on the state s military base. They are working to find a balance between preserving and using the forest land. Hawaiian Rainforest Honolulu Beach GLOBAL CONNECTION Washington and Hawaii are the only states with rainforests. Hawaii s rainforest is tropical, that is, it lies in the tropical zone. Washington s rainforest lies in the temperate zone. Rainforest in Alaska Rainforests can provide important resources. People are finding ways to use hundreds of rainforest plants for medicines. People also cut trees for wood and clear land for farming and ranching. Many people are worried about the clearing of the rainforests.