The West is the biggest geographical region in the country. As a result, the region has various landforms, climates, economies, and people.
The West has every landform one might desire to see. The most breathtaking mountains in the country reside here in the Rocky, Sierra Nevada, and Cascade ranges. The region has dense and massive forests in Montana, California, and Alaska. There are deserts, beaches, rivers, and the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii is a group of active volcanic islands.
Climate cannot be generalized to satisfy the vastness of the West. Alaska has a polar climate with beautiful, but short, summers. The portion of the West on the mainland (of the lower 48 states) has a temperate climate with four seasons like the rest of the country. This climate varies depending upon elevation and proximity to the ocean. The northern west coast, for example, is very mild all year and has the highest average annual rainfall in the country. The southern west coast and the inland southern areas can be very hot most of the year and have little rainfall and short, mild winters. The inland mountain states of Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana have temperate climates with four seasons, but can be very cold and snowy in the winter due to elevation and mountain effect.
Economically, the West is of huge importance to every American. In Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and northern California (also referred to as the sub-region Pacific Northwest) the economy revolves around the resources of the North Pacific, primarily fishing, and the timber and logging industry. Similarly, Idaho, Montana, California, and Wyoming contribute to the logging industry and add agriculture value. Parts of the West rely entirely on tourism. This is Hawaii’s principal economic contributor. Colorado also sees recreation/tourism as a chief branch of their economy. California profits from tourism as well as show business in Hollywood. Nevada relies heavily on the gaming industry for its economic prosperity. Finally, the West also contributes to the nation’s manufacturing and industrial economy in various urban centers like Denver, Los Angeles, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Portland, and Anchorage.
The people of the west come in all shapes, sizes, and types. Hawaii is the only state in which Asian Americans are the largest ethnic group. California serves as home to millions of Mexican-Americans. Other states of the West are almost entirely Caucasian, but all in all, the West holds a vast array of people from all ethnic groups, nationalities, ages, and occupations.
| GEOGRAPHY MAIN | Northeast | Southeast | Midwest | Southwest | West |
Questions? Contact M. Hernandez at hernanmj@uwec.eduhernanmj@uwec.edu
Page Last Updated 10/26/2003