WESTERN REGION ENVIRONMENT 2003 SchoolMedia, Inc.
Learning Objectives
1)
Be able to list the eleven states that make up the Western
Region.
a) Six of these states are called the Mountain States, because
they border the Rocky Mountains. The Mountain States
include Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, and
Nevada.
b) The other five states are called the Pacific States because
they border the Pacific Ocean. The five pacific states
include Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, and
Hawaii.
2) Realize that the Western Region has a wide variety of
landforms, and know example(s) of each type of landform.
a) Mountains: Every state in the Western Region has
mountains. In general, these mountains tend to be taller
than those found in other regions. The Rocky Mountains
form the largest mountain system in North America,
which is composed of many smaller mountain ranges.
These mountain ranges include: The Front Range in
Colorado and Wyoming; the Teton Range in Wyoming;
and the Brooks Range in Alaska. At 20,000 feet above sea
level, Mount McKinley, in the state of Alaska, is the
highest peak in North America. An imaginary line, called
the Continental Divide, runs north and south along the
highest peaks of the Rocky Mountains. Rivers on the east
side of the Continental Divide flow east toward the
Mississippi River, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic
Ocean. Rivers on the west side of the Continental Divide
flow west toward the Pacific Ocean. To the west of the
Rocky Mountains is the Cascade Mountain Range. Many
of the peaks in the Cascade Mountain Range are
volcanoes, including Mount St. Helens and Mount
Rainier. The Sierra Nevada mountain range, which runs
along the California-Nevada border, is composed of huge
granite peaks. The Coast Ranges are made up of many
smaller ranges that stretch from southern California all
the way up the Pacific Coast to Kodiak, Alaska.
b) Faults: Areas near the Coast Ranges contain faults, where
the earth’s crust breaks and shifts. These faults are centers
for earthquakes.
c) Islands: The Hawaiian Islands are a major feature in the
Western Environment. They were formed by volcanoes
rising from the floor of the Pacific Ocean. Although
Hawaii has eight main islands, the state includes 132
volcanic islands.
TEACHER’S GUIDE
f)
4)
Realize that the climate of the west is one of extremes. The
state of Alaska holds a national record low temperature of
minus 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and Death Valley holds the
national record high temperature of 134 degrees
Fahrenheit. Many areas in the Pacific Northwest receive
more than 100 inches of rainfall per year, yet Death Valley
gets only 2 inches of rainfall each year. The Western
Region’s variety of landforms leads to a wide range of
climates. These landforms have different elevations, and
climate generally changes with elevation. The floor of a
valley may be warm most of the year with moderate
rainfall, but the top of a mountain may have a cold climate
and receive many feet of precipitation.
5)
Realize that the West’s wide variety of natural resources
make it a hub for industry. Seattle, Washington is a major
port for shipping lumber around the world. California and
Utah make computers and computer software. The sate of
Washington also produces computer software, as well as
ships and airplanes. Tourism is a major industry in the
West. Places like Volcanoes National Park, Yellowstone
National Park, and Yosemite National Park draw scores of
recreation seekers each year. The West is home to more
national parks than in any other region in the United Sates.
d) Valleys: California’s Central Valley sits between the Sierra
Nevada Mountains and the Coast ranges, and it stretches
over 450 miles north to south. Waters from the
Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers now irrigate this once
dry land. Now the Central Valley’s fertile soil is used to
produce crops that are shipped throughout the world. At
282 feet below sea level, Death Valley, located in
Southern California, is the lowest point in North America.
3) Know about the wide range of natural resources that the
Western Environment supports.
a) Lumber: A large amount of lumber comes from the
forest of northern California and in Oregon and
Washington. Lumber is a necessary resource in the
production of homes, furniture, and paper. There are laws
in place that protect the Giant Sequoias and some of the
Coast Redwoods from being cut down. These laws strike
a balance between the environment and industry.
b) Crops: The mild temperatures and rainy days of the
Pacific Northwest allow farmers to produce many kinds
of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. In fact, Washington leads
the country in growing apples and cherries. The rich soil
of Idaho produces potatoes, wheat, and hay. California’s
Central Valley yields more than 150 kinds of fruits and
vegetables, including grapes, peaches, tomatoes, and
artichokes. The warm and wet climate of Hawaii is great
for the production of sugarcane, pineapple, Macadamia
nuts, coffee, and flowers.
c) Fish: The state of Alaska leads the country’s fishing
industry, catching about 1½ billion dollars’ worth of fish
each year.
d) Livestock: Cattle and sheep are raised on the great plains
of Wyoming, Colorado, and eastern Montana. These
states provide large areas of grasses on which the
livestock can feed.
Metals: Gold, silver, lead, zinc, and copper are mined in
Western Region.
Suggested Activities
1)
Have students work in groups to prepare a creative
extension to any one of the topics covered in the video.
For example, students who choose climate might build a
model of farmland that requires irrigation due to dry
weather. Students who choose natural resources may want
to present the class with examples and explain their
importance (i.e. gold, lumber etc.).
2)
Have students work alone or in groups to plan a trip to the
Western Region. Research airfare, transportation, etc. Ask
students to prepare a budget and itinerary for their trip.
e) Coal, oil and gas: These resources are found throughout
the west, including the states of Utah, which has
petroleum and coal, and Alaska, which produces large
amounts of oil.
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