CHAPTER 7 SECTION 4The West

Available Water

Water- shapes natural vegetation, economic activity, and population density.

Dry Areas (little precipitation)- natural vegetation: short grasses, cactus- example: Reno, Nevada

Available Water Wet Areas

- receive enough rainfall to contain deciduous and coniferous forests- Example: Seattle, Washington

Tropical- Example: Hawaii

Tundra- a dry, treeless plain that sprouts grasses and mosses only in the summer, when the top layer of soil thaws- Example: Alaska

Natural Resources (page 172-173)

Mining

Forestry

Commercial Fishing

Natural Resources

Mining- Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada contain minerals of gold, silver, copper, tin, etc.- 1800’s people rushed to the West seeking fortune.- Businesses were set up to provide goods and services to miners- and population grew

Natural gas and oil- 1960’s- Trans-Alaska Pipeline carries oil across the tundra

Natural Resources

Forestry- half of nation’s construction lumber is from the forests of the Pacific Northwest

Commercial Fishing- fish caught in Alaska, Hawaii, and other Pacific Coast states bring in billions of dollars.

The Growth of Western Cities

Transcontinental Railroad- 1880’s

- railroad fare was lowered between the Midwest and Los Angeles

- people began to move West- most live in cities

The Growth of Western Cities

Los Angeles, California- second largest city-1920’s aircraft and motion picture industry- aqueducts – large pipes that carry water over long distances (to support growing population)

Conquering Western Distances

Alaska- largest state however least populated

Hawaii- made up of eight main islands