1. REGIONS OF THE USA

2. Geography September 30 & October 1, 2015
THE WEST & Southwest
Geography
September 30 & October 1, 2015

3. Southwest & West Objective: Essential Question:
Students will observe the Southwest Region and analyze the physical, cultural, and economic aspects of the West Region.
Essential Question:
What is the relationship between physical geography and population?

4. Warm-up: CNN Student News
Write a ONE SENTENCE summary on TWO news stories from CNN Student News.
After the video you will have 5 minutes to write your 2 summaries.
Summary: “A brief statement or account of the main points of something.
Discussion to follow: What do you think?

5. Western Region: Climate
Northwest Pacific: Oregon and Washington to the Cascade Mountains.
This is the perhaps the wettest part of the country. There are scattered rain showers all year round.
Temperatures are mild. The summer months are pleasantly warmer but never too hot.
However, weather is generally unstable: Areas can be wet or very dry for years and vice versa.
Forest fires can be common.
You can see fogs along the coast during the warmer weather.

6. CLIMATE

8. West: Economy
Megalopolis areas: Los Angeles & San Francisco Bay Area.
Center of mass media – Radio & Television.
Tourism is prominent along the Pacific Coast & Hollywood Film Industry.
Center of the Computer Industry in Silicon Valley.

9. MONTANA (HELENA)
The state Capitol building
St. Helena Cathedral

10. IDAHO (BOISE)

11. WYOMING (CHEYENNE)

12. 3.- Las Vegas (Nevada)

13. Interior west: Pacific States: West: Agriculture Wheat Belt
Must be irrigated by constant water supply and a long sprinkler system.
Strip Mining.
Strip away soil and rock. Can lead to erosion & other problems.
Pacific States:
California: Aerospace, agriculture: Vegetables & Fruit.
Oregon & Washington: Forests & Fish.

14. CALIFORNIA (SACRAMENTO)

15. NEVADA (CARSON CITY)

16. UTAH (SALT LAKE CITY)

17. West: People More than 74 million people live in the West.
Still one of the most sparsely settled areas in the US.
Populated by Native Americans since 11,000 BC.
Many settlers traveled to the West: Mormons, Miners, immigrants (Europe, Asia, & Mexico / S. America) in 1800’s.

18. ARIZONA (PHOENIX)

19. NEW MEXICO (SANTA FE)
Lensic Theatre
St. Francis cathedral

20. 2. San Francisco (California)

21. West: Culture
Large Mormon population in Idaho, Utah, Arizona & Nevada.
Casino Resort towns of Las Vegas & Reno
Numerous American Indian tribal reservations.
Many People share & celebrate a “frontier spirit” and hold progressive / libertarian views.
Many immigrants.
Foods: California Pizza, Sushi, Chinese Chicken Salad, Bacon Cheeseburger. Rice. Wine. Oranges.

22. WILD WEST CITIES

23. 7. Denver (Colorado)

24. 8.- San Diego (California)

25. 9. Seattle (Washington)
Mount Rainier

26. 10.- Portland (Oregon)

27. Western Region: Landform
Rocky Mountains
Sierra Nevada Mountains
Yellowstone National Park
Wyoming / Montana / Idaho
The Great Salt Lake
Utah
Death Valley
California
Yosemite National Park
San Andreas Fault Line

28. LANDFORMS
RIVERS
MOUNTAINS
DESERTS
NATIONAL PARKS

29. RIVERS

30. MOUNTAINS

31. THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

32. 1.THE GRAND CANYON (COLORADO)

33. DESERTS

34. Alaska and Pacifc Islands: Geography
Vast land of few people, many of them native.
Great stretches of wilderness, protected national parks & wildlife refuges.
Cold or frigid climate.
Economy: oil, forests, & fish.
Hawaii:
Center gateway between the US and Asia.
Economy: Tourism.
Mild climate & Fertile soils.

36. Fun Facts: Alaska
It’s the only state capital that cannot be reached by road or rail; everyone and everything comes to Juneau by boat or plane.
Activities: hiking, boating, biking, skiing and fishing.

37. ALASKA (JUNEAU)
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