The West
West
A breath taking natural landscape-this is the most memorable feature of much of the West. Towering snow capped peaks rise throughout the Rocky Mountains. Rivers have carved spectacular canyons, broad plains sweep on for hundreds of miles.
Old West
The old West.
West
Has only 9 states in the western region.
Western region
The biggest region.
Vocabulary
Aqueducts-large pipes that carry water over long distances.
Tundra-a dry,treeless plain that sprouts grasses
Ecosystems
How does climate affect the variety and distribution of vegetation in the west?Climatological and environmental research has led scientists to expect global warming and other climate changes to occur within the next few decades. The causes seem to be man-made. One question is what influence, if any, a warmer climate will have on flora and vegetation.
Natural Resources
What are three major industries in the west that rely most directly on natural resources? Mining companies, oil companies,and commercial fishing.
Patterns of settlememnt
What geographic features have influenced where people live in the west?People usually settle where there is good climate, good soil, and water. People will settle near rivers but cataracts, mountains, and deserts will prove barriers to settlers.
West
The west is a region of scenic beauty on a grand scale.All of its states are partly mountanious, and the ranges are the sources of startling contrasts. Parts of western Washington state for example recieve 20 rimes the amount of rain that falls on the Eastern side of the states cascade range.
West continued
In much of the west the population is sparse, and the federal government owns and manages millions of hectares of undeveloped land. Americans use these areas for recreational and commercial activities, such as fishing, camping, hiking, boating, grazing, lumbering, and mining.
The growth of western cities
The completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869 spurred the growth of towns and cities along the ribbon of silvery track. In the 1880s, the railroads lowered the fare between the Midwest and Los Angeles to only one dollar.