What is the Western United States?
Alaska
As the largest state in the Nation, Alaska is known for its varied flat bush covered land to its mountain ranges. Although the landscape is breathtaking, the climate is less than pleasant. The tallest mountain located in the North American continent lies in Alaska. The greatest number of national parks as well as glaciers exist in this region.
Arizona
More than half of the state of Arizona is either mountain or plateau. The state has three land regions. They include the Colorado Plateau, Transition Zone, and the Basin and Range. Several mountain ranges exist as well including the Mazatal, Santa Maria, Sierra Ancha, and White Ranges.
California
California is a very diverse state in terms of the geographical landforms that exist within its borders. In fact, the state has eight different geographical regions! Some of the landforms that exist include mountains that were formed from volcanoes, deserts, and valleys.
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains dominate the landscape of most western Colorado. Glaciers formed these mountains, which account for Colorado’s standing of the highest elevation state in the Nation, and coastal uplifts millions of years ago. The Rocky Mountains extend from Canada to Mexico.
Hawaii
Hawaii is known as the Aloha state. Many words are associated with the term aloha, such as hello, love, welcome, and goodbye! Hawaii is located 2,390 miles from California and 3,850 miles from Japan. Despite these miles, millions of visitors travel to this state each year. There are eight main islands that compose the state and 124 islets.
Idaho
Lovely and diverse! These terms have long been used to describe Idaho’s varied landscape. Vast sand dunes, deep river canyons, underground ice caves, prehistoric lava beds, and soaring mountains are just some of the landforms that add to this beautiful region.
Montana
Montana's original First Nation groups lived in two different areas. The Rocky Mountains were home to the Kootenai who each winter would be forced into the foothills. The Cheyenne, Blackfoot, and Crow First Nation groups inhabited the Great Plains.
West Mountain Region
The west mountain region of the United States includes the states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Several mountain ranges exist in the state of Arizona. These include the Mazatal, Santa Maria, Sierra Ancha, and White Ranges.
Nevada
Many residents know of Nevada's climate as fairly tough! Often, dry conditions in the desert areas prevent farming while mountain climate conditions deliver such cold temperatures too extreme to live. Residents of Nevada have adapted to these varying regional conditions in creative ways.
New Mexico
Four land regions exist in the state of New Mexico. They include the Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, Basin and Range Region, and Colorado Plateau. Canyons and rivers help dissect, or divide, the Great Plains. Mesas, cliffs, and valleys exist in the Colorado Plateau.
Oregon
The region of Oregon stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the northeast's Blue Mountains. This region hosts Hells Canyon, which has a depth of 8,000 feet! This geographical phenomenon is the Nations deepest canyon. Arid deserts blanket the eastern part of the state.
West Pacific Region
The West Pacific Region includes the states of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington. The tallest mountain located in the North American continent lies in Alaska. The greatest number of national parks as well as glaciers exists in this region. California is a very diverse state in terms of the geographical landforms that exist within its borders.
Utah
The Rocky Mountains rein in the northeast part of Utah. Other mountain ranges include Uinta and Wasatch. Utah’s Great Salt Lake Desert is within the western third of the state called Great Basin, which includes the Basin and Range Province.
Washington
The state of Washington is known as the Evergreen State. The state hosts lowlands, mountains, and a coastal range. Many residents live in the Puget Sound Lowlands. This valley runs from Canada south to Oregon.
Wyoming
According to explorer John C. Freemont, "Nature had collected all of her beauties together in one chosen place." This is what he recorded as he explored and first saw Wyoming in 1842. Many since that time have had the same appreciation and admiration.