Come to the Pacific Region!
By: Lily Schneider
The Pacific Region
The Pacific Region is five states: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. The Pacific Region has lots of National Parks like Death Valley, Pearl Harbor and much more! Here are some of the states and some landmarks.
United States Pacific Region (Britannica.com)
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States. It takes up 1/6 of the United States! Alaska has lots of natural gas, gold, silver, and coal. Some important cities in Alaska are Anchorage, Jauneau, and Denali, . In the winter it's frigid. The coldest winter in the United States was in Alaska; it was -80 degrees! In the spring and summer it can reach the mid 60's and 70's. So, if you like colder weather, Alaska would be the place for you!
Mount McKinley
Mount McKinley is the tallest mountain in the United States. It is located in Denali, Alaska. Mount McKinley means "The Great One". The mountain is 20,237 feet tall, that is above sea level! More than 1,500 people have climbed Mount McKinley! You can snowboard, ski, and climb the mountain.
Denali National Park
Denali National Park is just one of the many National Parks in Alaska. Aren't the mountains in the backround beautiful? When you go to Denali National Park you will see lots of animals like moose, goats, and maybe even a bear! You can go on tours and go hiking.
Glacier Bay
Glacier Bay is another National Park in Alaska. It covers more than 3.3 million acres of land! It was first a large solid glacier until the early 18th century. It started retreating and it evolved over the centuries into the largest protected water area park in the world.You can hike and take photos.
evolved- It means it changed over the years
retreating- It means to fall or go down
California
California is the most populated state in the United States. California is known for natural gas, silver, and gold. 1 in 8 people in America live in California! That is a lot of people! California is the third largest state in the United States. California was first settled by Native Americans thousands of years ago. Then the Spanish Empire took California in the 16th and 17th centuries. When Mexico became independent from Spain, California was a part of Mexico. During the Mexican-American War, America won California. If it weren't for the war, California still would have been a part of Mexico. In the winter it can get from the 50 to 70 degrees, in the spring in can get from 70 to 90 degrees, in the summer it can get from anywhere in-between 80 to 100 degrees, and in the fall it can get from 60 to the 80 degrees. California has a risk of earthquakes near San Francisco.So, if you like really hot weather, California would be the place for you!
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park is the hottest, driest, and lowest place in the United States. You can hike there and visit ghost towns. It is 282 ft. below sea level! It is extremely hot there. It holds the record for the hottest temperature in the world which is 134 degrees! So, if you like hot weather Death Valley is the place for you, but don't forget your sunscreen and water bottle!
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is a National Park in California. You can hike there. It is named after all the Joshua Trees that are there. It is slightly larger than the state Rhode Island.The park itself includes 2 desserts and a designated wildlife area.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is another National Park in California. You can hike and camp there. It is known for it's waterfalls. It is about 1,200 square miles. You can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more!
sequoias- A giant tree you can find while you are at Yosemite National Park.
Hawaii
Hawaii's capital is Honolulu. Hawaii is made up of 8 little islands. Hawaii is the 50th state and also the 8th smallest state. Hawaii is 10,931 square miles and it is the 40th populated state. It has lots of agriculture items in it like pineapples, papayas, bananas, nuts, and coffee beans. Hawaii has lots of volcano's like the famous diamond head. Hawaii can get hot in the summer like the 90's, warm in the spring like the 70's, a little colder in the fall like the 50's, and colder in the winter like in the 20's and mid 30's. So, if you like hot weather Hawaii would be the place for you!
Diamond Head Volcano
Diamond Head is a name of a volcanic tuff cone in Oahu, Hawaii. It's English name came from the British Soldiers in the 19th century. The soldiers mistook calcite crystals on the Adjacent Beach for diamonds. Adjacent Beach is the beach below the Diamond Head Volcano. The Hawaiians call it Lea'hi. You can go hiking and camping there.
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor is a historic place were you can learn about a tragic day on Sunday, December 7th 1941. On that day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, which was an army base in Oahu, Hawaii. Many people were killed on that day. We will always remember that day. You can visit the historic sight, go on group tours, and a walking tour.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was established in 1916. It includes 2 active volcanoes: Kilauea, one of the worlds most active volcanoes and Mauna Loa which is the worlds most subaerial volcano. For visitors the park provides beautiful landscapes and sometimes a rare flora and fauna. You can hike there.
Subaerial- it means literally in the air. For example, a subaerial eruption of volcano is one that ejects material into the air.
Flora and Fauna-it is a rare kind of flower you may run into when at Volcanoes National Park.
Oregon
Oregon is the 9th largest state and the 27th most populated state. It is known for it's Douglas firs and Redwoods which are both trees. The capital is Salem but Portland is the most populated city in Oregon. It's highest point is Mount Hood and the lowest point is The Pacific Ocean. Oregon became the 33rd state in February 14,1859. It is known for hazelnuts, wine, wheat, cattle, sheep, dairy products, eggs, and poultry. It can get from 30 to 50 in the fall, it can get in the mid 60's in the spring, it can get in the 70's and 80's in the summer, and it can get from 10 to 20 in the winter. So if you like warm springs and summers and cold falls and winters, Oregon is the place for you!
Mount Hood
Mount Hood is the highest point in Oregon. It is 6,000 feet above sea level. About 10,000 people try to climb Mount Hood every year. Every year, about 150 people die from climbing it and less than 50 people have been rescued. You can climb the Mount Hood, go hiking, skiing, and snowboarding.
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. It is the 9th deepest lake in the world. It is Oregon's only National Park. It was established on May 2, 1902 by President Theodore Roosevelt. Crater Lake is 183,224 acres total. You can go hiking, camp, go swimming, fishing, and go on boat tours.
Portland
Portland is the largest city in Oregon. It is the second largest city in the Pacific Region. It is the twenty-ninth most populated city in the United States. Portland is known growing roses. Portland is also known for being one of the most environment friendly cities in the world. You can go to museums, hike, go shopping, and go to some attractions in Portland.
Washington
Washington state was named after George Washington. It was established on 1889 by George Washington and it was the 42nd state. It is the 13th most populated state in the United States. Washington's capital is Olympia but the most populated city is Seattle. Washington is known for apples, hops, pears, red raspberries, spearmint oil, and cherries. Some trees are Douglas fir, hemlock, white pine, spruce, larch, and cedar. In the winter it can get 40 degrees to 50 degrees, in the spring it can get 50 degrees to 70 degrees, in the summer it can get 70 degrees to mid 80 degrees, and in the fall it can get 40 degrees to 60 degrees.It also rains a lot in Washington. So, if you like warmer and rainy weather, Washington is the place for you!
-hops: They are flowers with a bitter and tangy flavor
-hops: They are flowers with a bitter and tangy flavor
Olympic National Park
Olympia National Park was originally created by President Theodore Roosevelt. It was designated by President Franklin Roosevelt. The Park has four basic regions: the Pacific coastline, alpine areas, the west side temperate rainforest, and the forests of the drier east side. In the picture is Madison Falls located in the temperate rainforest. While you are there you can camp, go hiking, go on tours, ride rafts, and you can go whale watching.
Seattle
Seattle is the most populated city in Pacific Region. It has over 652,000 residents living in it! Seattle was first inhabited by Native Americans over 4,000 years ago before the first European settlers. A man named Arthur A. Denny named "Seattle" in 1852, after Chief Si'ahl of the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes. You can go shopping, go to museums, go to theaters, and much more!
Ebey's Landing National Historic Reserve
Ebey's Landing National Historic Reserve is 19,333 acres. It was established on November 10th, 1978. It was named after Colonel Isaac Ebey. He was an important figure to Washington's Territory. It was also were George Vancouver discovered the Puget Sound. It was also home to some of earliest American Pioneers. You can go hiking, go biking, go fresh water fishing, have a picnic, and go bird-watching.
Puget Sound: A body of water that George Vancouver discovered
Sources
-Atlas Intermediate
-Atlas of our Country
-Atlas of the United States Schoolastic By: David Rubel
-Atlas of our Country
-Atlas of the United States Schoolastic By: David Rubel