Geography; Chapter 7; Section 4; The West Flashcards | Quizlet
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Geography; Chapter 7; Section 4; The West

Terms in this set (25)

Chapter 7; Section 4
The West
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What three things did water affect in the West?
1. Natural Vegetation
2. Population Density
3. Economic Activity
What is the majority of the West's climate?
semiarid or arid
Define arid.
having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation:
Describe natural vegetation of the arid parts of the West.
short grasses, hardy scrubs, sage brush, cactus
What vegetation do areas that receive enough rainfall have?
rich deciduous and coniferous forest at lower elevations
What is the climate of Hawaii?
Wet tropical climate
What does Alaska have in the northern part of the state?
Tundra
Define tundra.
A dry, treeless plain that sprouts grasses and mosses only in summer, when the top layer of soil thaws.
Where are many minerals found in the West?
beneath Rocky Mt. and the Sierra Nevada
Name 3 minerals found in the west.
Silver, uranium, gold
What is the Gold Rush?
a rapid movement of people to a newly discovered goldfield. The first major gold rush, to California in 1848-49.
Who was successful in the Gold Rush?
Huge mining companies
What carries crude oil across the tundra?
Trans-Alaska pipeline
What led to the development of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline?
Discovery of major oil field near Prudnoe Bay, Alaska in the 1960's
How much construction lumber is harvested from the Pacific Northwest?
nearly half
What can the US do with fish caught in the Pacific?
Sell them.
What spurred the growth of cities and towns?
Completion of first continental railroad in 1863.
Where does people prefer to live? Why?
cities; the convince of being near work and shopping
What is the nation's second largest city?
Los Angeles
Where does LA get water?
from aqueducts
Define aqueducts.
Long pipes that carry water over distances.
Where does the California Aqueduct run? How long is it?
California's Sacramento Valley
685 miles
Alaska is the _________________ in size and the _______________ populated.
Largest
Least
How many islands make up Hawaii?
More than 100.
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