Chapter 17

Volcanoes

Lava of  Mount Loa, largest active volcano in the world

      Hawaii is an island formed and shaped by volcanic activity.Similarly, Oregon also shaped by volcanic activity in the pacific rim in the past.The Cascade mountains have volcanic mountains such as Mt.Hood(oregon's),Mt. Jefferson, Three sisters,Mr.Mazama and New berry volcanoe.The above mentioned mountains are 5 sentinels where volcanic activity is possible to occur.However, there was no eruption or hazardous volcanic activity happened for centuries contrast to Hawaii where hazardous volcanic eruptions are active.Geological evidences say, cities Portland and Bend are built upon volcanoes similarly all the Hawaiian islands are  formed by million of years of volcanic activity.

Sources
http://www.ohs.org/exhibits/traveling-exhibits/150-million-years/oregons-volcanic-wonderland.cfm

Google Images.Youtube.

Chapter 16

Eco friendly Oregon

Pacific Northwest is the region Oregon State is situated.Many aspects of Oregon is discussed in this chapter specifically culture, people and places.Portland is the third largest metropolitan area in Pacific Northwest. Also, one of the cleanest city in air and water quality in North America.Many people in Portland bicycle to work than any other city in United States.Careful urban planning, urban growth boundary system, higher citizen participation and multimodal transit system keeps Portland  an environmentally friendly metropolitan. Especially urban growth boundary is a powerful long term land use policy introduced by former Oregon governor Tom McCall.This shows Oregonian's eco friendly urban planning..In addition, almost all of the beaches in Oregon are publicly owned and open to public which is another example of concern and activism about environment.

Oregonian's biking to work

Green city scaping

Chapter 15

Klamath Mountain Ecoregion

Oregon and California are neighboring states.Both states has lot in common such as pacific ocean, high ways, rugged mountainous topography, flora and fauna.One of the common territory lies in between these states is klamath mountains ecoregion.This region include nearly 1.7 million acres  of area starting from Sacramento Valley up to Umpqua Valley, Oregon.Highly dissected ridges, valleys and foothills are common topographic features .This ecoregion harbors rich biodiversity of plants including temperate rain forest, moist inland forests,oak forests, alpine grassland,and savannas. It is one of the America's  most biologically diverse region.In addition many rivers and significant amount of fauna make this destination good choice for hiking.

Sources
http://www.fs.usda.gov/klamath

Images -Wikipedia

Chapter 14

Historical Settlement

Unlike Mex America, Oregon is partially controlled by United States in West coast.Before european arrival, many different number of native americans present in the Pacific Northwest region.They mostly depended on fishing and marine mammal for their food.The Lewis Clark Expedition in 1803 open up settlement of europeans. British and Americans did fur trading and control the Oregon territory.Most of the early settlements in Oregon happened in fertile Willamette Valley.However, relative isolation of region from the rest of the country, keep Pacific Northwest from rapid settlement.After 1880's ,completion of transcontinental rail road attract many to settle in this region. Also large number of immigrants from Canada,the British isles, Germany, Scandinavia and other parts of the Europe settled in early 19th century. Later Latinos,Asians and Russians  also settled in this region in large numbers.Today, Oregon  has a significant amount of diversity.However, white population still the vast majority in contrast to Mex America region.

Oregon demographics based on  2010 census

Sources-The Geography of North America, 2nd edition.Hardwick, Shelley,Holtgrieve.

Images-http://almanac.ushli.org/states/oregon/

Chapter 13

Map of the Columbia Plateau

The Columbia Plateau

Although whole Oregon is not part of Columbia Plateau, it is very significant on physical geography of the state.The Columbia Plateau is  a basal flat region located between Rocky Mountains and Cascade mountains.The great Missoula Flood in Pleistocene time also shaped plateau uniformly covered with basaltic lava flows, but significant warping and faulting have caused elevations above sea level.Series of rolling hills, steep sided dry canyons,surficial lava flows are characteristics of Columbia plateau.

The plateau covers an area of about 100,000 square miles of southern Washington, Northeastern Oregon, and Western Idaho. Snake River and Columbia Rivers are major rivers irrigate the Columbia plateau. The climate is usually semiarid, and vegetation is limited mostly to shrubs and grasses.However,some parts of plateau is fertile and productive due to precipitation.

 Sources-The Geography of North America,2nd edition.Images by google.

Chapter 12

Mt.Hood, Oregon

Cascade mountain range oriented North-South across the Oregon.Mt.Hood is the Highest peak in the Oregon which is 11,249 ft.Also world's second most climbed mountain and the loftiest mountain in North America.Mt.Hood is actually an active volcano formed by subduction zone on Pacific Plate, but explosive eruption is highly unlikely based on history and observation.

Mt.Hood is popular tourist attraction in Oregon.Mountain climbing, snowboarding, skiing and hiking are perfect for this destination.The Columbia River running next to the mountain adds a scenic beauty for snow capped Mt.Hood.

Source-www.traveloregon.com

             You tube

Chapter 11

 Sand Hills of Oregon

Nebraska Sand Hills

         Nebraska Sand Hills  cover 19300 square miles in the Great Plains.This makes largest dune in Western Hemisphere.Similarly Oregon has largest coastal sand dune in North America. which Oregon Dunes National Recreational Area is located at North Bend ,Oregon.It occupies an area of 40 miles of coast. The Oregon Dunes are a unique area of windswept sand that is the result of millions of years of wind and rain erosion on the Oregon Coast. Some of the sand dunes are 500feet tall which provides many recreational activities such as hiking, camping, photography,off road vehicle use and  horse back riding. However, Nebraska Sand Hills are used for cattle ranching and tourism unlike Oregon Dunes which is only suitable for tourism.

 Sources -Chapter 11, Geography of North America/ State parks.com/Google images

Oregon Dunes

Oregon Dunes

Chater 10

Oregon Coast

Oregon has 350 miles of  coast of Pacific Ocean which contributes to the beauty and economy of the state.The state's coast is historically significant because Lewis Clark Expedition ended here.Oregon beaches are surrounded by towering pines or other lush landscapes.Oregon state passed a bill  (Oregon Beach bill of 1967) which enable access to all beaches free.Also, the bill facilitate to build a Oregon Coastal Highway beginning from California(south) to Washington(North).Also, there are 36 state parks created along the coastal highway.The completion of coastal highway and park system not only add beauty to state, but also contributes to the state's economy by coastal tourism.Moreover, Oregon coast is home of diverse marine ecology.Several species of seals, sea stars,sea birds, kelp forest and many other marine animals can be seen in different parts of coast of Oregon.

Sources- http://theoregoncoast.info/
Photos-Google

Sea star in Oregon Coast

Oregon Coast                                                                                     

Chapter 9

Forest and Timber

Like Inland South, Oregon has vast amount of area covered by trees.Forests account  for 48% of the Oregon's land mass which is one of the most productive forestland in the world.The abundant rainfall, mild climate and deep soil make tree grow naturally.According to Oregonforest.org, forest land contribute 12.8 billion dollars for Oregon's economy.Timber production and tourism make the forest sector productive. Timber industry also holds nearly 60 000 jobs to Oregonians. However,private owned forest are mostly contribute to Timber industry.Federally reserved forest lands have restrictions in recent times because of unsustainable harvest in the past.

Source-  http://oregonforests.org/content/forest-sector-economy

Chapter 8

The Crater Lake

The Crater Lake of Oregon can be compared with the Great Lakes because both of them hold their own significance.The Superior Lake (The Great Lakes ) the largest Lake in America, but  the Crater Lake is the most deepest in America.It is located in a volcanic crater in southern Oregon. According to Geology.com, the depth of the lake is 1,932 feet (589 meters). It is the seventh deepest lake in the world. 

Beautiful Crater lake in Summer

Crater lake during the winter.

It is quite an amazing lake because no rivers flow into it or out of it. The water level in the lake is a balance between rainfall, groundwater flow and evaporation.

The lake was formed a by an explosive volcanic eruption.Also Lake has two island structures with in lake.They are named as Wizard island and Merriam Cone. 

Traveloregon.com  has listed the lake as one of the seven wonders of Oregon and  recommends it as one of the must see in Oregon.Here is the YouTube video about the Crater Lake.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdengrxzMIc

Chapter 7

Oregon and Megalopolis 

The term megalopolis means large, heavy populated cities adjacent to each other.The city of Portland is  the major metropolitan area for the whole state.According to census Oregon's population is 3.83 million in 2010. The Portland itself has 16% (~0.6 million) of the state population.On the other hand, New York city's population is 8.4  which 43% of the state population(19.7 million) .This statistics state how cities in megalopolis  are densely populated compare to Oregon.

Salem(capital) and Eugene are other major cities in Oregon which is less populated than Portland.Therefore, Oregon is quite the opposite of megalopolis. The below picture illustrates the megalopolis region in America.

Mega region in U.S.A(Wikipedia)

 Sources- U.S census Bureau, Google public data
https://www.google.com/publicdata/explore?ds=kf7tgg1uo9ude_&met_y=population&idim=place:4159000:5363000:4123850&hl=en&dl=en

Chapter 5

Oregon Tourism

     Atlantic periphery tourism has become a very important contributor to Atlantic Periphery.Likewise,tourism is crucial to Oregon's Economy.More and more people from other parts of United States is traveling to Oregon and its neighbouring Pacific Northwest.Oregon offers variety of activities for its travellers such as backpacking, sport fishing, river rafting, hiking and sight seeing.Traveloregon.com has listed most important attractions of the state. Below Youtube video has described about 7 local wonders of Oregon.

Chapter 4

Economic Sectors

Oregon has a balanced revenue from all the economic sectors.Earlier, primary sector was the dominant economic contributor.Agriculture in Willamette Valley and timber from Oregon's forest contributed significantly to the state's economy.In recent times, tourism( teritory sector) and high technology industries (quaternary sector) has become a strong industries in the state.Tektronix, Intel are some of companies situated in Silicon forest(Oregon version of Silicon Valley) become a major employer since 1970's.According to Oregonbusinessreport.com Oregon was placed in top six in  high tech jobs in 2012.

Sources-   http://oregonbusinessreport.com/2012/10/oregon-6-in-top-tech-jobs/

Chapter 3

 Lewis Clark Expedition (1804-1806)

Lewis Clark Expedition ended in present day Oregon. In 1803, United States purchased Louisiana territory from France.This huge part of land west of Mississippi  river, was unknown to Americans and needed to explored before settlement.President Thomas Jefferson appointed his private secretory Meriwether Lewis as commander to explore this newly purchased land. Lewis Clark expedition had a goal to find a waterway from United States to Pacific Ocean.However, the explorers did not find any water way to Pacific Ocean.On the other hand, They succeeded documenting  of flora, fauna and map of this region.

Pacific Northwest is one of the last North American region to be explored by Europeans and Euro Americans. Lewis Clark Expedition layered the foundation for later settlement in present day Oregon.

Sources- http://www.historynet.com/lewis-and-clark-expedition
Photo credit- Wikipedia

Chapter 2

Physical geography 

      Oregon is mostly mountainous and forested state.One can experience contrasting climates within the state because elevation, orthographic precipitation, and rain shadow effects gives a complex climates ranging from ever green forest to desert.

Physio graphic regions of Oregon.

The above map illustrates the six physiographic region and how they influence the climate in the each region.

1. Coast Range- This is where Portland and states capital Salem is situated.This region has mild marine coast climate.The participation is copious and year around due to marine cold air mass from North West Pacific.

Coastal Range

2. Willamette Lowland- This fertile valley region situated between cascade mountain and coastal range mountains.Most the agriculture takes place in this region because of the stable mild climate.Also most the state population lives in this region.

Willamette Valley

3.Cascade mountains- This region has tall mountains such as Mt.Hood which is 11245 feets , highest point in the state.These tall mountain range reduce the moisture of marine air mass even further after coastal mountain range.Snow fall is common in higher altitude.

Scenic Cascade range

4. Columbia plateau- This region is mostly flat and drier.However rivers and flat surface make this land similar great plains region.wheat,grains and livestock are raised in this region

5.Basin and range region- The driest region in the state because rain shadow effect  and lack of natural water resources make these region hot and drier.High dessert is located in this region which has arid desert climate.

High Desert in South eastern Oregon

6. Klamath Mountain- This region is rugged and  lightly populated with mountain which boarders California in South.This region is relatively drier than Coastal range because cold air masses from North West is loses some of it moisture in Coastal range.

Klamath range

http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/narratives/OREGON.htm

Photo credits- Wikipedia, Yahoo Images

Chapter 1

Introduction

     Oregon is a state situated in Pacific Northwest of the United States.It boarders  Washington state in the North, Idaho in the East, California and Nevada in the south and Pacific Ocean in the West.The state capital of is Salem although Portland is the most famous.

     

     The origin of the name Oregon is not certain. One theory has it that the name comes from the French Canadian word "ouragan" meaning "storm" or "hurricane."Another suggestion is that the name of the state came from the Spanish word "orejon" meaning "big-ear." This was a term that was applied to many Indian tribes in the area.A third idea suggests that the name of this state comes from the Spanish word "orégano" for the wild sage which grows so vigorously in eastern Oregon.

    Oregon is called "The Beaver State" because of the association of beavers with the early history of the state and because of the admirable qualities of intelligence, industry, and ingenuity that are associated with this animal. The beaver is the official state animal and is displayed on the Oregon state flag.

 The state is home to deep vast forests, volcanic peaks, fertile valleys, plateaus, and an incredibly rugged coastline. The spectacular beauty of Oregon makes one the must visit state in Western United States 

Rugged coast line of Oregon.

Crater Lake, Crater Lake National Park.

Portland, Oregon.

Forest of Ecola State Park.