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The Far Corner: Washington’s Geography
and Geology
Essential Question
How does Washington’s geography and geology affect the
way we live?
The Northwest Corner
Washington’s location:
• In the Northwest corner of the United States
• Between the 46th and 49th parallels north latitude
• Between 117 degrees and 125 degrees west longitude
Washington’s Boundaries:
• Canada makes the north political boundary
• The Pacific Ocean and the Strait of Juan de Fuca make natural western boundaries
• The Columbia River makes most of the natural southern boundary
• A political boundary separates Washington from Idaho on the eastern side
Eastern
Border
Washington’s Coast
Spatial Patterns
•
Coastlines, rivers, deserts, and mountains affect where people live and work.
•
Humans have had an impact on the land over the years.
– Loggers cut down too many trees
– Hunters shot too many wild animals
– Fishermen caught too many salmon
– People changed the land to meet their needs
•
Today, people and companies act more responsibly to take care of the land.
The Columbia River
• The Columbia River is one of Washington’s most famous physical
characteristics.
• Indian tribes and early fur trappers used the river for transportation
and a source of food.
• The river became the source of a thriving salmon industry.
• The source of the river is at Columbia Lake, high in British Columbia,
Canada.
• The Columbia has many tributaries and flows into the Pacific Ocean.
• The Columbia is the most powerful river in North America in terms of
hydroelectric energy.
mouth of the
Columbia
Columbia Lake
Grand Coulee Dam
The Pacific Coast
• Washington has 157 miles of ocean coastline.
• The Strait of Juan de Fuca has over 3,000 miles of coastline.
• Washington has deep-water harbors that link it to the rest of the
world.
• The Pacific Ocean and the Puget Sound are the sources of the state’s fishing
industry.
Puget
Sound
Area
• Salmon, oysters, crabs, shrimp, halibut, flounder, tuna, and cod are caught in
Washington’s waters.
• Winds from the ocean give Washington a mild climate.
What Region
is Washington Part of?
• Regions are places that share common features.
• Washington is part of the Pacific Northwest region.
– A region of states that share common
physical, political, and economic features
• Washington is part of the Pacific Rim region.
– A region of all the countries that
border the Pacific Ocean
Washington’s Five Regions
•
Each region has at least one main physical feature but may contain more.
• The Coastal Range
– Narrow region along the Pacific Ocean with rainforests, mountains, and other
forests
The Puget Sound Lowlands
• Plains and valleys around the Puget Sound with fertile land and
access to rivers and seaports
The Cascade Range
– Includes the Cascade Mountain range with its high volcanic
peaks and many glaciers
The Columbia Plateau
– A high, flat plateau on the east side of the Cascades with dry land
and natural vegetation
The Rocky Mountain Region
– Steep hills that are foothills of the Rocky Mountains in the
northern corner of the state
A Jigsaw Puzzle
• Scientists believe Washington is made of many
small continents.
• Millions of years ago, they came together because
of the earth’s shifting plates.
• Tectonic forces uplifted, tilted, and folded the earth’s
crust to create mountains.
• Tectonic forces left fault lines that shift and cause earthquakes every
few years.
• Mountains were also formed by volcanic action.
• The Cascade and Olympic Mountains are part of a
great Ring of Fire.
Volcanoes Shaped the Columbia Plateau
• Lava covered the Columbia Plateau.
• Volcanic ash and dust covered parts of the Plateau and created rich
soil.
• Today, this is the Palouse wheat-growing region in eastern
Washington.
The Lessons of Mt. St. Helens
• Mt. St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980.
• The eruption was equal to 21,000 atomic bombs.
• The destruction was great and 57 people lost their lives.
• Some people ignored warning signs and stayed near the mountain.
• The mountain will erupt again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njV9ski1gB4
Ice Age Washington
• About 1 million to 10,000 years ago, an ice age covered much of
Washington with snow and ice.
• Glaciers grew and shrank as the temperature changed.
• Moving glaciers shaped the Puget Sound Lowlands.
• Ice dams blocked rivers and formed prehistoric lakes.
• Water broke through dams, causing immense floods.
• Every 50 years or so for 2,000 years, floods occurred.
• Grand Coulee was created during the ice age by ice and
floodwater.
Fossils are Clues to the Past
• Fossils of plant and animal life tell us about the
region in which they were found.
• Shells and bones from ancient sea life tell us that
oceans once covered our land.
• Plant fossils in central Washington indicate that a
large tropical rainforest once flourished there.
• Coal was formed by the combination of prehistoric plants, heat, and
pressure over millions of years.
• Deposits of coal and other fossils that
can be burned are considered fossil fuels.
• Environmentalists warn that greenhouse gases are produced by
burning fossil fuels.