Western US: Physical Features

Physical Features of the Western United States

• Western states are larger and less densely populated than eastern states.
• This region has a greater variety of natural resources and drier climates compared to the east.
• The Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains separates rivers that flow east from those that flow west.
• The Great Plains is a flat or gently-rolling region that now hosts farms and ranches.
• Uplands include the Black Hills, Rocky Mountains, and Pacific Mountain ranges like the Olympic, Cascade, and Sierra Nevada.
• Significant physical features include the Colorado Plateau, Grand Canyon, Basin and Range Region, and Columbia Basin.
• Alaska and Hawaii, while part of the western United States, are not contiguous with the other 48 states.
• The highest point in the United States, Mount McKinley (Denali), is located in the Alaska Range.
• Hawaii is a volcanic island chain with two active volcanoes.
• The Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico border this region.
• Major ports are along the coasts and rivers are a key source of water and electric power.
• Lakes are fewer in number compared to the eastern United States.
• Climates range from temperate rain forests in the Pacific Northwest to dry climates in much of the region.
• Mountains on the Pacific coast create a rain shadow effect where the west gets a lot of rain leaving little moisture for the interior.
• Alaska has a cool to cold climate and Hawaii has a tropical rain forest climate.
• Natural resources include land, petroleum, natural gas, coal, timber, minerals, and renewable energy sources like hydroelectric power, wind, and sunshine.

History of the Western United States

• Westward expansion significantly shaped the region's history.
• Native American tribes, each with unique cultures inhabited the west and some tribes were nomadic.
• The Spanish were the first Europeans, starting settlements in 1598 and establishing missions to convert Native Americans to Christianity and Spanish culture.
• French explorers also claimed lands west of the Mississippi River.
• In 1803, the Louisiana Territory purchase from France gave the United States land between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains.
• The concept of Manifest Destiny in the 1830s fueled westward expansion, believing the United States should control most of North America.
• Alaska and Hawaii came under American control in the 1800s.
• Railroads were built in the late 1800s, facilitating travel and migration to the west.
• Gold and silver discoveries attracted migrants to the West.
• Farms and ranches were developed on the Great Plains, replacing grasslands.
• Millions of bison were killed and Native Americans were displaced onto reservations for white settlers.
• Americans made a living from natural resources like farming, ranching, mining, fishing, and logging for decades.
• The oil industry boomed in Texas, Oklahoma, and California in the 1900s.
• California developed movie and television industries and the resorts and recreation industries grew with the middle class such as Las Vegas.

Life in the Western United States

• Cities in the west are spread out, relying on automobiles due to limited public transportation.
• Many port cities along the Pacific Coast are important for trade with Asia.
• Fast-growing cities include Denver, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
• Many people still live in small towns and villages.
• Increasing populations in western cities are straining water resources.
• Water scarcity may limit economic growth so desalination is possible but expensive.
• Latinos are a large part of the population in California, New Mexico, and Texas.
• Asian Americans are the majority in Hawaii, and the region has great religious diversity.
• The population over 65 is growing rapidly.
• NAFTA, a trade agreement between US, Canada, and Mexico, created the world's largest free trade zone in the early 1990s.
• Common environmental problems are erosion, wildfires, mudslides, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.
• Agriculture, mining, and timber are important economic activities.
• Aerospace and computer industries are major employers in Southern California, Washington, and Texas.
• Prominent industries include tourism, entertainment, telecommunications, and information science.