The WEST

The Geography

A vast region• Largest region in the U.S• 11 States• This region also includes Hawaii and Alaska-

our largest state

Vast Region• Vast-meaning different landforms• Snow capped mountains to fiery volcanoes• Deserts to thick forests

Plants and animals• Because of the vast region-many types of

plants and animals• Bears, eagles, blue columbine, frangipani

Mountains• The rocky mountains-young mountains that stretch more

than 3, 000 miles• Formed from huge plates, that floated and bumped into

each other and slid upward• The Rockies get lots of snow!• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJk9cFz152s

Rivers

• As the snow from the Rockies melts, it flows into the Rio Grande, the Missouri River and the Colorado River

The Great Salt Lake

• Rivers and stream flow into this lake• Brings freshwater and salt• This lake is getting smaller because of

evaporation• Saltier than the ocean-too salty for fish

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxL_0VfUPQA

A region in motion• Earthquakes-ground trembles• During an earthquake-the plates bump each

other and push together-common on the west coast because plates are close together!

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zNyVPsj8zc

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0AEtX-uPLA

Volcanoes• Magma-melted rock pushes through the

earth’s plates• When the magma reaches the surface-its

called lava

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2V2kAGp91I

Hot Spots

• Some volcanoes form from hot spots or places where magma reaches the earths surface but doesn’t break through

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeaQbqcZNMw

Geyser• Pressure from the steam under the water

builds up and shoots hot water or steam into the air-OLD FAITHFUL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gyhvqbIaOE

Climate in the west

• The elevation affects the climate-higher up you go the colder it gets

• Timberlines-tree lines

Alaska and Hawaii climate• It is far away from the equator• Has cool summers and very cold winters• Hawaii is closer to the equator• Warm, tropical climate

Precipitation

• Very wet area around Washington -160 inches of rain every year