Desert landscapes continue further east in the Western states of Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, with parts of Utah and Colorado also boasting dry, rocky landscapes. The region is characterized by its deserts, its mountains, and its wide open spaces. The total population of the Texas Triangle Mega-region as of the 2010 census was 17,745,584. . The arid regions generally support only livestock grazing, chiefly beef cattle. In other words, a region is an area of land that has common features. 4. Major rivers. The seasonal temperatures vary greatly throughout the West. While most of the studies of racial dynamics in America such as riots in Los Angeles have been written about European and African-Americans, in many cities in the West and California, whites and blacks together are less than half the population because of the preference for the region by Hispanics and Asians. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. . The term West Coast is commonly used to refer to just California, Oregon and Washington, whereas Alaska and Hawaii are more geographically isolated from the other states of the region and don't necessarily fit in any of these subregions. The region also has about 27 million acre-feet of water in its reservoirs, which is about 40 percent of the nations total. The Rocky Mountains are one of the most well-known mountain ranges in the area. The Pacific Northwest is the region of the western United States located adjacent to the Pacific Ocean. The hottest temperature ever recorded in the state was 112F (44.4C) in Martinsburg on July 10, 1936. What are some interesting facts about the West region? Drawn by the promise of free land, they began to migrate westward in large numbers. Within a region as large and diverse as the Western United States, smaller areas with more closely shared demographics and geography have developed as subregions. What are 3 interesting facts about the West Region? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. *The rock found at the bottom of the Grand Canyon is around 2 billion years old! At 1,346,106 km 2 (519,734 mi 2) in size, the Northwest Territories is the third largest of the 13 provinces and territories in Canada, surpassed by Nunavut and Quebec, but larger than Ontario. They first emerged in the mid-19th century, when the American West was still a frontier territory. Lakes and rivers make up only 0.002 percent of New Mexico's total surface area, which is the lowest water-to-land ratio of all 50 States. The culture of the western United States, which many consider the epitome of American-ness, is in origin a synthesis of Anglo and Hispanic cultures which was created in Texas in the days of the Texas Republic and spread with the trail herds to what is now the western United States (and Canada). Drought is much more common in the West than the rest of the United States. These states have many things in common such as their geographic location. The Western region of the United States is rich in natural resources. There are many factors that come into play when defining a region. The culture of the West region is one that is marked by its rugged individualism, a pioneering spirit, and a love of the outdoors. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Idaho is famous for its potatoes. Interesting Facts about the States in the West Region. Major settlement of the western territories developed rapidly in the 1840s, largely through the Oregon Trail and the California Gold Rush of 1849. The foods found in the West are varied. The West is one of the most sparsely settled areas in the United States with 49.5 inhabitants per square mile (19/km2). Another one of those interesting facts about the Caribbean is that the shortest runway on earth, not more than 1,300 feet long, can be found on the Caribbean island of Saba. Babylon was a key kingdom in ancient . Fueled by the growth of Los Angeles, as well as the San Francisco Bay area, including Silicon Valley, the center of America's high tech industry, California has become the most populous of all the 50 states. California and Arizona are major producers of citrus crops, although growing metropolitan sprawl is absorbing much of this land. Such volcanoes include such Mount Shasta in northern California, Mount Hood in Oregon, Mount Saint Helens and Rainier in Washington and Mount Garibaldi in British Columbia. The Columbia River, which begins in the Columbia Plateau in western Idaho and flows through the Cascades to the Pacific Ocean, has the second-largest flow of water (behind the Mississippi River) than any other river in the lower 48 states. "10 Interesting Facts About the Pacific Northwest." View. The Northwest Territories is twice as large as the US state of Texas, but not . In the Pacific Coast valleys, there are many farms. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver and Portland are all culturally significant cities in the U.S. The Rocky Mountains are the longest and highest mountain range in North America. The West region is one of the 10 regions of the United States. Many of these minerals are found in the Rocky Mountains. During the latter half of the 20th century, several transcontinental interstate highways crossed the West bringing more trade and tourists from the East. It runs north to south from British Columbia, Canada, to Oregon. 5. The seasonal temperatures vary greatly throughout the West. The mountains are known for their steep slopes, jagged peaks, and diverse wildlife. The area is known for its beautiful scenery, including its mountains, canyons, and deserts. The U.S. Census Bureau's definition of the 13 westernmost states includes the Rocky Mountains and the Great Basin to the Pacific Coast, and the mid-Pacific islands state, Hawaii. "10 Interesting Facts About the Pacific Northwest." Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Fun Facts for Kids on American Southwest - the Colorado Mountains in American Southwest The Great American West and Southwest Facts. Which is correct poinsettia or poinsettia? However, in many cases, these cities are home to a different cultural atmosphere than the more rural areas outside of the cities. Today, there are still visible artifacts from the Pacific Northwest's early inhabitants as well as thousands of descendants that still practice historic Indigenous culture. Mesopotamian civilization was one of the earliest in world history. ThoughtCo, Oct. 2, 2020, thoughtco.com/ten-facts-about-the-pacific-northwest-1435740. Five Regions of the Continental United States - Correction: AK should be . . West Region Interesting Facts. If the U.S. was divided in half width-wise in a precise manner . Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) EncyclopediaofFacts All Rights Reserved. California, Oregon, and Washington have earthquakes and even volcanoes! Idaho is famous for its potatoes. Only Texas with 78.0 inhabitants/sq mi. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. What Are Some Facts About Michael Jackson, What Are 3 Interesting Facts About Jamaica, Why We Should Not Defund The Police Facts, Why Students Should Not Wear Uniforms Facts, Why Is Evolution Taught In Schools As Fact. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Finally, the Western region is known for its warm weather and sunny skies, which make it a popular destination for retirees. West Africa has been defined as including 18 countries: Benin , Burkina Faso, the island nation of Cape Verde , Gambia , Ghana , Guinea , Guinea-Bissau , Ivory Coast , Liberia , Mali , Mauritania , Niger . Oregon and Washington grow most of the apples, pears and cherries eaten in this country. Most of New Mexico's lakes are manmade reservoirs. The history of the American West in the late 19th and early 20th centuries has acquired a cultural mythos in the literature and cinema of the United States. Both Omaha, Nebraska and St. Louis, Missouri laid claim to the title, "Gateway to the West" during this period. Wet, mountainous areas and flat, dry areas with sandy coastlines are all part . The Western region of the United States includes ten states: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Utah. The Rocky Mountains are the longest and highest mountain range in North America. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The region was first inhabited by Native American tribes, many of which were forcibly removed in the 1800s. 10 Interesting West African Facts. 3. The Rocky Mountains create a rain shadow effect, resulting in a much drier climate in the west. A region can be defined by physical characteristics, human characteristics and functional characteristics. Oregon and Washington have also seen rapid growth with the rise of Boeing and Microsoft along with agriculture and resource based industries. Briney, Amanda. Built in 1977, it turned a 40-minute mountain drive into a one-minute crossing. The West then became a popular destination for settlers traveling westward in the 1800s. The idea of Manifest Destiny emboldened . The Western region covers all or part of twelve states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. In fact, the greatest annual rainfall in the United States falls in the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest. The driest place recorded in the U.S. is Death Valley, California. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. These forests are a source of lumber, paper, and other wood products. The coldest temperature was -37F (-38.3C) in Lewisburg on December 30, 1917. The West is also home to some of the most iconic American landmarks, such as the Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. 4. As a generalization, the climate of the West can be described as semiarid; however, parts of the West get extremely high amounts of rain and/or snow, and still other parts are true desert and get less than 5 inches (130mm) of rain per year. The West is also distinctive geographically. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The contrast between the romanticism of culture about the West and the actuality of the history of the westward expansion has been a theme of late 20th and early 21st century scholarship about the West. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". They are a people who are not afraid to take risks and to innovate. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The West is a highly competitive culture. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The Southwestern United States is known for its arid deserts, red rock landscapes, rugged mountains and natural wonders like the Grand Canyon. 49, No. fun facts. The Western United States is home to the largest concentration of Native American tribes in the country. The coast in this part of California is much warmer and more traditionally beachy than northern parts of the Pacific Coast. Midwest, also called Middle West or North Central States, region, northern and central United States, lying midway between the Appalachians and Rocky Mountains and north of the Ohio River and the 37th parallel. Functional '' water in its reservoirs, which is about 40 percent of nations., resulting in a precise manner 3 interesting Facts about the West region of free land, began... 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