1. 1 Western United States

2. 2

3. 3 Postal Abbreviations WA Washington ID Idaho MT Montana OR Oregon WY Wyoming CA California NV Nevada UT Utah CO Colorado AZ Arizona NM New Mexico AK Alaska HI Hawaii State Capitals WA Olympia UT Salt Lake City ID Boise CO Denver MT Helena AZ Phoenix OR Salem NM Santa Fe WY Cheyenne AK Juneau CA Sacramento HI Honolulu NV Carson City

4. 4

5. 5 Western United States   There are 13 states in the Western Region   It is the largest region of the United States

6. 6 Physical Features The Rocky Mountains are North America’s largest mountain range. –Melting snow from the Rockies formed rivers including the Rio Grande, The Missouri, and The Colorado –Landforms vary greatly Good land for farming Tall Grass Prairies for ranching Coastal areas for fishing Great Plains Deserts Basins Volcanoes

7. 7 Alaska Purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million William Seward (Sec. of State) bought it the 49 th state - 1959

8. 8 The Hawaiian Islands 8 major islands; 100 smaller actually volcanic mountains “poking” through Pacific 1900 became USA territory; 1959 became USA state (50 th state)

9. 9 Climate/Weather The Ring of Fire 2:50

10. 10 Climate/Weather Pacific Ring of Fire Region is subject to earthquakes, volcano eruptions, and hot spots (In middle of a plate where magma reaches surface. Warms water and shoots steam into air known as Geysers) Extreme variance in seasonal temperature and rainfall (Alaska to Hawaii!) Semiarid Climate in general in western states that fall in the contiguous 48 states sem·i·ar·id (s m - r d) adj. Characterized by relatively low annual rainfall of 25 to 50 centimeters (10 to 20 inches) and having scrubby vegetation with short, coarse grasses; not completely arid.

11. 11 The Pacific Ring of Fire Climate/Weather Plate Tectonics 3:49

12. 12 Climate/Weather The Ring of Fire The large series of volcanoes (some active) encircling the Pacific Ocean are referred to as being part of the Ring of Fire, and notorious for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The Ring of Fire, coinciding with the edges of one of the world's main tectonic plates, (the Pacific Plate) contains over 450 volcanoes and is home to approximately 75% of the world's active volcanoes. Nearly 90% of the world's earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire; most recently, the devastating quakes in Chile, Japan and New Zealand. Ring of Fire information 2:11 (earthquakes) Ring of Fire explanation 1:33

13. 13 Earthquakes Top Earthquake States 1. Alaska 2. California 3. Hawaii 4. Nevada 5. Washington 6. Idaho 7. Wyoming 8. Montana 9. Utah 10. Oregon

14. 14 Volcanoes Pacific Ring of Fire Cycle of Heated Gas 1:14

15. 15 Volcanoes Mt. St. Helens, Washington State The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens was the most significant to occur in the contiguous 48 U.S. states in recorded history The eruption was preceded by a two-month series of earthquakes and steam-venting episodes, caused by an injection of magma at shallow depth below the mountain that created a huge bulge and a fracture system on Mount St. Helens' north slope. An earthquake at 8:32 a.m. on May 18, 1980, caused the entire weakened north face to slide away, suddenly exposing the partly molten, gas- and steam-rich rock in the volcano to lower pressure. The rock responded by exploding into a very hot mix of pulverized lava and older rock that sped toward Spirit Lake so fast that it quickly passed the avalanching north face. VIDEOS: Mt. Saint Helens 1:40 devastation to animals/people Mt. Saint Helens 1:49 Landslide Mt Saint Helens 7:31

16. 16 Hot Spots Yellowstone National Park “Old Faithful” The Old Faithful geyser in Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park erupts about once every 65 minutes, much to the delight of tourists. The water ejected during each eruption is at or near the boiling point, often reaches a height of 50 meters (approximately 170 feet), and has an estimated volume of 45,000 liters (12,000 gallons). WEBCAMWEBCAM main page WEBCAM Video

17. 17 Economy of the West Resources Timber Minerals –Gold Rush in California & Alaska Oil –Alaska pipeline Natural gas Fish Dairy Pineapple/Sugarcane (Hawaii)

18. 18 Technology  Movie industry  Computers in the Silicon Valley  Computer equipment  Telecommunications The area around Los Angeles also was a major center for the aerospace industry by World War II, though Boeing, located in Washington state would lead the aerospace industry Federal Government  Military bases  Much of land owned by government  Flat deserts good for testing planes and missiles  Supports scientific research Economy of the West Industry

19. 19 Places of Interest Some of the largest cities include: Los Angeles (CA) San Francisco (CA) Phoenix (AZ) Seattle (WA) Denver (CO) Las Vegas (NV) Salt Lake City (UT)

20. 20 Historic Route 66 Texas to California start at 4:25

21. 21

22. 22

23. 23 Places of Interest Landmarks/Tourist Attractions Grand Canyon Hoover Dam Pearl Harbor Yellowstone National Park Las Vegas entertainment Seattle Space Needle San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge and Chinatown Mount St. Helens Only erupting volcano in contiguous 48 Mount McKinley

24. 24 History People Native Americans (Plains Indians) –Inuit survived in Alaska by hunting and fishing. –Hawaii settlers came from South Pacific islands –Large Indian reservation European Settlers moved west as part of westward expansion and to escape from the Dust Bowl Spanish Settlers from Texas and Mexico Asian Immigrants came to work in mines and build railroads and now contribute heavily to technology industry Hawaii settlers came from South Pacific islands –Hawaii is the only state in the union in which Asian Americans outnumber white American residents.

25. 25 Culture of the Western states

26. 26 History Culture Culturally distinctive points include the large Mormon population in the Mormon Corridor, including southeastern Idaho, Utah, Northern Arizona and Nevada The image of the cowboy, the homesteader and westward expansion took real events and transmuted them into a myth of the west which has influenced American culture since at least the 1920s. Western businessmen promoted U.S. Route 66 as a means to bring tourism and industry to the West.

27. 27 1849: California Gold Rush Compromise of 1850 (California admitted to Union as non- slave state) Gadsden Purchase 1930’s: Dust Bowl 1989: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill History Events