 1) Coastal  2) Western Lowlands  3) Western Cascade Mountains  4) Eastern Cascades Mountains  5) Columbia Basin  6) Okanogan Highlands  7) Palouse Hills

 lies along the western coastline of the United States  This long and very narrow region, is only 40 to 70 miles(65 to 110 km) wide  extends south from the Olympic Peninsula from the Strait of Juan de Fuca

 Strait of Juan de Fuca  snow-capped Olympic Mountains  evergreen rain-forested Olympic Peninsula  broad sandy ocean beaches,Klamath-Siskiyou  Grays Harbor-Chehalis River lowland  Willapa Bay and Willapa Hills  mouth of the Columbia River  Tillamook BayNorthern Coastal Range  Coos Bay Rogue and Umpqua rivers  Astoria, OregonPort Angeles, Aberdeen

 Coastlines  Six major indentations: Coos Bay Tillamook Bay the mouth of the Columbia River Willapa Bay Grays Harbor the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

 Inlets are also sites for the region’s largest communities  Why?  NO  Close  RIGHT access to world markets through shipping!!!!

 Topography  Normally most coastal areas are near sea level  Not true in the Pacific Northwest  Elevations approach nearly 8,000 feet  The region’s profile is bell-shaped.  The profile begins at sea level, climbs to the top of the Olympic Mountains and the Coastal Range, then rapidly descends to nearly sea level again.Olympic Mountains

 Climate  Because of off shore warm currents British Columbia, and southern Alaskan (coast-lines), have a very mild, but moist climate throughout the year.  This climate provides lush vegetation and supports dense coniferous (softwood) forests.  Extensive ever-green forests cover the Coastal Region except were development has taken place.ever-green forests

 Temperature  The Coastal Region’s climate is the most moderate in the Pacific Northwest  Winter 3  °F and 5  °F  Summer 5  °F to 7  °F  With lots of rain fall

 Precipitation  Coastal Region greatly exceeds the norm in the Pacific Northwest and the western United States.  40 inches (101 cm) a year  200 inches (508 cm) of rainfall annually in the Olympic Mountains  Rain shadow Rain shadow

EEconomic Activities OOne result of the region’s mild rainy cli- mate is the abundance and variety of plant and animal life. mmain economic activities include fishing, forestry, general farming, and tour-ism.

 located between the mountains and hills of the Coastal Region and the Cascade Range.  extends about 400 miles (640 km) north to south but is only 50 to 70 miles (80 to 110 km) wide  The region is the most heavily populated, urbanized, and industrialized in the Pacific Northwest.

 The Western Lowlands are made up of  three large subregions:  1) the Puget Sound Trough  2) the Chehalis-Cowlitz-Columbia river valleys  3) the Willamette River Valley

 The Western Lowlands are made up of The Puget Sound area has hundreds of small and medium sized islands,  Such as: San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island, Vashon Island, and Bainbridge Island  It is also has many peninsulas Olympic Peninsula, Kitsap Peninsula.

 Puget Sound Trough  located in western Washington  It is a densely populated fertile lowland that is a hub of economic activity.  Major urban areas such as Seattle,Tacoma, Bellevue, Bremerton, Bellingham, Everett, and Olympia  All are centers of urban and industrial activities.

 Due to glacial erosion, Puget Sound has an irregular shoreline and numerous deep, sheltered harbors such as:  Hood Canal-Bangor, Elliott Bay-Seattle, Commencement Bay-Tacoma, Everett, Bremerton, Olympia, Anacortes, and Bellingham.

 Chehalis-Cowlitz River Valleys  The second subregion within the West- ern Lowlands contains three major river valleys:  1) Chehalis River  2) Cowlitz River  the Columbia River Gorge  Why are these regions not as populated?

 Willamette Valley  the third subregion  The Willamette River Valley was the historic objective of thousands of early pioneers.  The Willamette River produced a broad fertile valley that is a prime agricultural region.

WWillamette Valley ccities as Portland, Eugene,Salem, Springfield, Beaverton, Corvallis, Al-bany, Lake Oswego, Gresham.

 Physical Terrain  elevation ranges from sea level to about 1,000 feet (305 m).  This region is physically unique because of its many river valleys and flood plains. Thus, the total precipitation is generally less.

CClimate MMarine West Coast TThe region receives slightly less precipitation than the Coastal Region.

 Precipitation  The Western Lowlands lie in the rainshadow of the Coastal Range and Olympic Mountains.  precipitation is generally less than on the windward slopes  average annual rainfall ranges from 15 inches (38 cm) at Sequim,and Eugene.  100 inches (254 cm) in the western foothills of the Cascade Mountains  The region’s average is about 40 inches (100 cm) annually.

TTemperature WWinter temperatures range from 3  °F to 5  °F ssummer temperatures generally range between 6  °F and 8  °F TThe Western Lowlands economy is be- coming more industrialized.

 Economic Activities  Climate encourages  vegetables, berries, flower bulbs, fruits, nuts, nursery plants and shrubs, some grains, dairy products, and beef.  Western Lowlands economy is be-coming more industrialized.  Western Lowlands economy is be-coming more industrialized transportation equipment, electronics, and high technology

JJust east of the Western Lowlands, also lying along a north-south axis, are the Cascade Mountains. TThey extend from southern British Columbia, Canada, through the states of Washington and Oregon and end in northern California.

 Natural Barrier  a formidable physical, climatic, and transportation barrier.  averaging about 6,000 feet (1,800 m) in elevation with many volcanic peaks above 10,000 feet (3,000 m)  Cascade Range has only a few low mountain passes and only one major lowland, where the Columbia River cuts through the Columbia Gorge.

.Volcanoes  The Cascade Mountains are part of the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire.”  Tallest Mount Rainier 14,411  Smallest Mt. St. Helens 8,365 ft

 Climate  these north-south mountains are a physical barrier to the region’s climate  West wet East dry  100 inches (250 cm) on the western slope and decreases to only 20 inches (50 cm) on the eastern slopes

 Rainier set the world record with 1,224.5 inches (3,110.2 cm) or 102 feet of snow between February19, 1971, and February 18,  heavy annual snowfall provides the late spring and early summer river runoff, especially significant for those eastern slope rivers flowing through the semiarid regions of Washington and Oregon.

 Highland Climate  Due to great range in elevation have climates that are more moist and very mild. summer maximum temperatures are cooler, but the winter minimum temperatures are colder.

 Difference in vegetation east vs. west  West dense evergreen coniferous forests Fir species  East pine  Animals birds, small animals, and big game animals, such as elk, black bear, cougar or mountain lion, mule deer,bighorn sheep, and mountain goats.

IInhabitants TThe Cascade Mountain Region is sparsely populated. MMountains is owned or controlled by either the state or federal government.

 The largest geographic region of the Pacific Northwest.  The region covers about 193,000 square miles  It is the world’s second largest lava plateau.  400 miles (640 km) from north to south and 500 miles (800 km) east to west

llies between the Cascade Mountains to the west, the Rocky Mountains to the east and north, and the Great Intermountain TThe Columbia Plateau was constructed by as many as 55 different lava flows.

 Sub regions  northern part Columbia Basin  the sub regions include: the Waterville Plateau the Quincy Basin the Channeled Scablands the Palouse Hills the Kittitas Valley the Yakima Valley the Pasco Basin

 The central parts of the Columbia Plateau are interrupted by the Seven Devils, Wallowa, and Blue mountain ranges.  On the Oregon side of the Columbia River is the Umatilla-Deschutes Plateau.

 The southern and southeastern sections are dominated by the Harney High Lava Plains and the Upper Snake River Valley respectively.  Climate  arid to semiarid region characterized by hot, sunny summers and cold winters.

 Precipitation  region is virtually surrounded by the Cascade and Rocky mountains. These mountain barriers have a drastic effect upon annual precipitation amounts received by the region  annual precipitation below 20 inches  Temperature  Summer 10  °F Winter below zero

 Natural Vegetation  sparse grassland and sagebrush-bunch grass  Wildlife we know  human inhabitants are un-evenly distributed over this huge area.  Why?

 Economic Activities  mixture of farming and manufacturing  a long growing season, and abundant irrigation water allow farmers to produce outstanding yields of wheat, bar-ley, oats, hops, alfalfa, corn, beans, apricots, potatoes, sugar beets, apples, pears, peaches, grapes, cherries, vegetables, and specialty crops. In addition, the dry grasslands are excellent grazing areas for cattle, sheep, horses, and other livestock.

 Forms the northernmost subregion in eastern Washington.  It extends east of the Cascades across the northeastern portion of the state.  The Columbia and Spokane rivers form its southern boundary

 Physical Features  very rugged and mountainous.  It includes the Okanogan Highlands, San Poil and Selkirk mountains, and a small portion of the Rockies.  Includes several peaks over 8,500 feet

 Physical Features  The Columbia River divides this subregion into two parts.  The western portion includes the Methow, Okanogan, and San Poil rivers.  The eastern portion includes the Pend Oreille,Colville, and Spokane rivers..

 Climate  Cold winters and warm summers.  Summers are warm with little precipitation  The higher elevations have a highland climate, and lower elevations are semiarid.

VVegetation FForested with a variety of evergreen and deciduous trees TThe undergrowth consists of brush and grasses VValleys are covered with western larch, alder, ash, and maple trees.

 The Palouse Hills extend south from the Spokane River to the Blue Mountains.  In southeastern Washington State

 Physical Features  The rugged Blue Mountains  Dune shaped Palouse Hills  Are the major physical features in this sub region.  6,401 feet highest elevation  Largest river of the region, is the Snake.

CClimate AA modified semiarid climate. RReceives more precipitation than other areas of eastern Washington. HHigher elevations of the Blue Mountains have a highland climate. WWinter tends to be very cold and windy. SSummers, are very hot and dry with little or no moisture after April.

VVegetation SSteppe grasses and sagebrush cover most of the sub region. TThe trees only grow on the moist upper slopes of the Blue Mountains.

 1) Coastal  2) Western Lowlands  3) Western Cascade Mountains  4) Eastern Cascades Mountains  5) Columbia Basin  6) Okanogan Highlands  7) Palouse Hills