The WEST The Geography

A vast region Largest region in the U.S 11 States This region also includes Hawaii and Alaska-our largest state

Vast Region Vast-meaning different landforms Snow capped mountains to fiery volcanoes Deserts to thick forests

Plants and animals Because of the vast region-many types of plants and animals Bears, eagles, blue columbine, frangipani

Mountains The rocky mountains-young mountains that stretch more than 3, 000 miles Formed from huge plates, that floated and bumped into each other and slid upward The Rockies get lots of snow! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJk9cFz152s

Rivers As the snow from the Rockies melts, it flows into the Rio Grande, the Missouri River and the Colorado River

The Great Salt Lake Rivers and stream flow into this lake Brings freshwater and salt This lake is getting smaller because of evaporation Saltier than the ocean-too salty for fish http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxL_0VfUPQA

A region in motion Earthquakes-ground trembles During an earthquake-the plates bump each other and push together-common on the west coast because plates are close together!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zNyVPsj8zc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0AEtX-uPLA

Volcanoes Magma-melted rock pushes through the earth’s plates When the magma reaches the surface-its called lava

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2V2kAGp91I

Hot Spots Some volcanoes form from hot spots or places where magma reaches the earths surface but doesn’t break through http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeaQbqcZNMw

Geyser Pressure from the steam under the water builds up and shoots hot water or steam into the air-OLD FAITHFUL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gyhvqbIaOE

Climate in the west The elevation affects the climate-higher up you go the colder it gets Timberlines-tree lines

Alaska and Hawaii climate It is far away from the equator Has cool summers and very cold winters Hawaii is closer to the equator Warm, tropical climate

Precipitation Very wet area around Washington -160 inches of rain every year