1. The American West J. Stark

2. Location and Key Political Features The West region of the United States is bordered by the Rocky Mountains to the east the Pacific Ocean to the west Canada to the North Mexico to the south.

3. The West region is divided into the Pacific states and Mountain states. Pacific states Washington ( Olympia, Seattle) Oregon ( Salem, Portland) California ( Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco) Alaska ( Juneau, Anchorage) Hawaii ( Honolulu ) Mountain states Nevada ( Carson City, Las Vegas) Utah ( Salt Lake City, Provo) Montana ( Helena, Billings) Idaho ( Boise ) Wyoming ( Cheyenne, Jackson Hole) Colorado ( Denver, Aspen)

4. Alaska and Hawaii Alaska and Hawaii are non-contiguous states that are included in the West. Alaska is bordered by Canada and the Arctic Ocean. Hawaii is a group of islands located in the Pacific between North America and Asia.

5. What are some of the region’s physical and climate characteristics? The West region of the United States is characterized by vast mountain ranges, basins, deserts, plateaus, rivers.

6. Geographic Terms Glacier – A large body of ice moving slowly down a slope or valley or spreading outward on a land surface.

7. Basin – A bowl-shaped landform surrounded by higher land.

8. Volcano – A vent in the Earth’s crust through which molten lava, ash, and gases are ejected. Mount St. Helens

9. Landforms Mountain States: Rocky Mountains (Continental Divide) Sierra Nevada Mountains Mt. McKinley (highest point) Glaciers Aleutian Islands

10. Pacific Landforms Pacific states: Death Valley (lowest point) Great Basin Volcanic Islands Cascade Mountains (Mount. St. Helens)

11. Climate The climate of the West ranges from extremely hot and dry to extremely cold and wet.

12. Climate Continued Mountain States Pacific States Winter- snowy, cold blizzards, long season Summer- mild, short season Mild throughout the seasons

13. Natural Resources and Economic Activity The geographically diverse West region offers a wealth of natural resources and wide-ranging economic activities.

14. Natural Resources Forests Fish, shellfish Minerals- gold, copper, zinc, uranium, lead, coal, iron, silver Oil and natural gas Fertile soil

15. Economic Activities Logging Fishing Ranching Farming Mining technology Entertainment Industry Military (federal government) Tourism Service Industry

16. Natural Resources and Economic Activities How have natural resources contributed to the economic development of the West?

17. Population Who are the people who have shaped the West region? What events made a significant impact On this region?

18. Early Settlement Nez Perce, Eskimo, Paiute, Chumash, Hawaiians

19. Early Settlement Spanish missions and forts (1500s-1800s) Fort Ross

20. Historically Significant Events and Places California Gold Rush (1849) Alaska Klondike Gold Rush (198-1899)

21. Nevada Comstock Lode-Silver Rush (1859-1878)

22. Cultural Characteristics Boom towns developed wherever gold Or silver was discovered.

23. Cultural Characteristics Ghost towns – once the gold or sliver were depleted, the towns were deserted.

24. Cultural Characteristics Wild, wild west – cowboys and adventurers Became a part of American folk lore.

25. Representative Landmarks and Significant Features The wide diversity of the land and Climate of the West attracts people for a Variety of purposes

26. Representative Landmarks and Significant Features (National Parks) Yellowstone National Park, WY Rocky Mountain National Park, CO

27. Recreational Area Lake Tahoe, CA Yosemite National Park, CA Denali National Park, AK

28. Las Vegas, NV (entertainment ) Hollywood, CA (entertainment) Space Needle, WA (tourist attraction)

29. Hoover Dam, NV (technology, historic) Waikiki Beach, Honolulu (resort) Kilauea Volcano (active volcano attraction )