Western Land
What is the largest mountain range in North America?
The Rocky Mountains
Name four resources found in the west.
Livestock, fishing, timber, minerals:coal, copper, silver, lead.
Because some western states are far north like Alaska, and some are closer to the equator like Hawaii.
What is the difference between an import and an export?
Import- Goods that are coming into a country.
Export-Goods that are going out of or leaving a country.
How can a volcano cause an island to form?
Lava continuously flows into the ocean and begins to cool and harden. Over time, the cooled and hardened lava builds up creating land.
Why is there a decline in the salmon population in the west?
Dams prevent salmon from going upstream to spawn or lay their eggs, so the population has declined.
What is the definition of a Tundra?
What resources attracted people to the west thousands of years ago?
Rich soil, open land, access to water, better weather.
How are geysers and hot springs heated?
Water underground is heated by magma.
How is the decline in the salmon population being solved?
The way the dams are built is being changed to allow the salmon to travel.
Why are parts of the states stretching from Idaho to Colorado cooler in temperature?
Because of the Rocky Mountains.
What areas of the west would most likely have Native American groups whose economies were based on fishing?
Areas along the coast in the states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii.
Why did people make their homes near lakes and rivers? Name 3 reasons.
Water for themselves and their animals, rich soil, easy travel.
How does ranching sheep in the west produce an income?
Ranchers can sell goods from the sheep, like their wool.
What side of the Rocky Mountains would you most likely find a rainforest? a prairie?
Rainforest on the west side of the mountains.
Prairie on the est side of the mountains.
What is the Pacific Rim?
The area made up of the countries that border the Pacific Ocean. These counties import and export goods to one another.
Why are volcanoes common in the west? What is a fault?
The western region has a lot of faults or breaks in the earth's surface, especially along the coastline.
What is the main purpose of producing goods from the resources in the west?
To ship to other regions and countries.
Describe the rain shadow effect.
Warm moist air from the pacific ocean rises up the mountains, the air cools from the high elevations causing the clouds to rain or snow. By the time the clouds move east, there is little to no moisture left.