Road
Trip!
Washington’s
Seven Subregions
and the
Six Traits of Good Writing
VH 2011-12
When it comes to geography, climate, and vegetation,
Washington is an extremely diverse state. In fact, our geography
determines our climates, which in turn determine our vegetation. In a
state created from volcanoes, ice ages, and floods of massive
proportion, Washington has a little something for everyone.
Those who love the outdoors can hunt, fish, climb, ski, and
camp. Those who prefer more metropolitan activities can find major
cities like Seattle and Spokane that offer different cuisines from
around the world, history and art museums, film and stage
presentations, and major league sport teams for just about everyone.
Like the water? Washington has fresh water lakes and rivers as well as
saltwater bays, inlets, and even an ocean. We even have our own
temperate rain forest! Like it dry? Try eastern Washington’s semiarid
climate where wheat fields, orchards, and billions of dollars in
agricultural activity dominate the landscape. For those who like it cold,
Washington offers several locations for downhill and cross country
skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling.
Explore Washington and you’ll discover a thousand places to
enjoy cities, small towns, and the great outdoors. Have fun as you
discover the 42nd state in the Union… Washington!
In your PNW class, you’ll investigate Washington’s
seven subregions. As you do so you’ll take notes covering
physical features, climate, and vegetation. Also, keep
track of things to do and see in six cities or towns in
each of the subregions. Then, you’ll create an atlas of
Washington maps that show population, agriculture, and
various other aspects of Washington. It’s a complex
state, and there is much to learn from the many maps.
In your language arts class you’ll use what you
learn to write a series of seven essays, one for each
subregion emphasizing a particular writing skill. Mrs.
Ramsaur will teach you the six traits of good writing. In
your seventh essay you’ll combine each of the six traits
to create a final essay that demonstrates what you’ve
learned about writing.
Questions?
The Coastal Subregion
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Physical Features: (What caused these
features?)
Pacific Ocean, bays and harbors (Willapa Bay and
Grays Harbor are two of the largest), peninsulas;
Hoh rain forest; Olympic Mountains nearly 8,000
feet above sea level; Mt. Olympus (7,980 ft.);
glaciers on higher peaks; many alpine lakes; Willapa
Hills; many short rivers; largest river in Washington
(Columbia) forms southern boundary of coastal
subregion.
The Coastal Subregion
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Climate: (Why do these climates prevail?)
* West Coast Marine: lower elevations; abundant
moisture (about 40-60 inches annually) and mild
temperatures (rarely above 85° or below 30°)
* Highland: found mainly in the Olympics; abundant
rain and snow year round; cold, wet winters; short
summers; Hoh rain forest gets >165 inches annually
The Coastal Subregion
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Vegetation: (Why do these plants thrive here?)
*Coniferous – hemlock, Sitka spruce, Douglas fir,
western red cedar
*Deciduous – alder, maple
*Other – raspberries, blackberries, moss, ferns,
nettles, lupines, lichens, rhododendrons, etc.
The Coastal Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Port Townsend
Hood Canal Museums
Forts Worden, Flagler, Casey
Olympic Mountains
Antique Stores
Victorian-era Seaport
The Coastal Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Port Angeles
Olympic Mountains
Dungeness Spit Hurricane Ridge
Sol Duc Hot Springs Elwha River
The Coastal Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Neah Bay
Makah Indian Reservation
Makah Cultural Center
Strait of Juan de Fuca
Lake Ozette Village Deep-Sea Fishing
The Coastal Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
Ocean
Shores
Sandy Beaches Body Surfing
Sand Castle Contests Camping
Salt Water Taffy Clam Digging
The Coastal Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
Westport Port City
Westport Fishing
Fleet
Agate Beach
Sea Perch Fishing
Whale Watching
The Coastal Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
Long Beach
Tourist Attractions Kite Flying
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge
Horseback Riding Deep-Sea Fishing
Columbia River Cape Disappointment
The Western Lowlands
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Physical Features: (What caused these
features?)
Formed from water and glacial erosion; numerous
hills, streams, rivers; Puget Sound; Hood Canal;
Strait of Juan de Fuca; Olympic and Kitsap
peninsulas; Whidbey, Bainbridge, Vashon, Mercer
and the San Juan islands; hundreds of rivers
coming from the Cascades and Olympics cause
seasonal flooding
The Western Lowlands
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Climate: (Why does this climate prevail?)
* West coast marine - plenty of rainfall and an
occasional snowfall each year; most areas receive
40 to 60 inches of precipitation annually; very mild
temperatures due to the influence of the Pacific;
extreme temperatures are rare; Olympics and
Cascades make for interesting weather predictions
The Western Lowlands
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Vegetation: (Why do these plants thrive here?)
*Coniferous – Douglas fir, western red cedar,
western hemlock, and Sitka spruce
*Deciduous – alder, maple, oak
*Other - rhododendrons, lupine, azaleas, ferns,
berries
The Western Lowlands Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Vancouver
Columbia River
Portland
Vancouver Barracks
Fort Vancouver
Pearson Museum of Flight
The Western Lowlands Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Olympia
State Capitol Building Tours
Boating Parks
Evergreen State College
Restaurants Museums
The Western Lowlands Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Tacoma
Tacoma Dome
Spaghetti Factory
U.W. at Tacoma
Glass Museum
The Port/Commencement Bay
Point Defiance Zoo/Park
The Narrows Twin Bridges
P.L.U., U.P.S., etc.
Rainiers Baseball
The Western Lowlands Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
Science Center
Space Needle
Experience Music Project
Pike Place Market
Museums
Seattle Festivals
Woodland Park Zoo
Mariners, Sounders, Storm,
Seahawks, and Thunderbirds
University of Washington, et al
The Western Lowlands Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
Everett Everett Symphony
Children’s Museum
AquaSox
Payne Field
Air History Museum
Boeing Tour
Future of Flight Aviation Center
The Western Lowlands Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
Mt. Baker
San Juan Islands
Railroad Museum Bellingham
Larrabee Park
(1915, WA’s first state park)
Bellingham Festival of Music
Mindport Arts/Science Museum
Western Washington University
Sailing, Fishing, Biking
The Western Cascades
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Physical Features: (What caused these
features?)
Western slopes, or windward side, of the Cascades
from Canada to the Columbia River; Cascade
Mountains; Mt. Rainier (14,411 ft.), Mt. Baker
(10,778 ft.), Mt. Saint Helens (8,365 ft.); many
alpine lakes, streams, hundreds of short rivers
The Western Cascades
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Climate: (Why do these climates prevail?)
* West coast marine – to 3,000 ft. (see previous
descriptions)
* Highland – above 3,000 ft. (see previous
descriptions); weather can change quickly as the
atmosphere rapidly climbs in elevation; heavy
precipitation; short cool summers; snow pack from
30’ to 90’
The Western Cascades
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Vegetation: (Why do these plants thrive here?)
*Coniferous – varied; thick evergreens below the
“tree line” only
*Deciduous – varied; mainly in the lower elevations
below 3,000 ft.
*Other - Only shrubs, low lying plants, and mosses;
early summer brings a variety of alpine flowers and
grasses into bloom
The Western Cascades Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Highway 20 North
Cascades Loop
Diablo Dam Diablo
Diablo Lake (turquoise!)
Gorge Creek Falls
John Pierce Waterfall
The Western Cascades Subregion
Attractions and Activities
North Bend
Mt. Si Helicopter Rides
Snoqualmie Depot Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Pass Outlet Stores
The Western Cascades Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Mt. Rainier National Park
Evangelische Lutheran Kirche
Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad
Elbe
The Scales Drive-In
Alder Lake
Mineral Lake
The Western Cascades Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
Packwood
Cowlitz River
Jet Boat Rides
Gifford-Pinchot National Forest
Mount Saint Helens
World’s Largest Garage Sale
The Western Cascades Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
Morton
Mineral Lake
Logger’s Jubilee
Swofford Pond
Riffe Lake/Mossyrock Dam
Morton Depot
Mount Saint Helens
The Western Cascades Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
Stevenson
Bonneville Dam
Beacon Rock
Columbia River Gorge
Sternwheeler Boat Rides
Windsurfing
The Eastern Cascades
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Physical Features: (What caused these features?)
All areas east of the crest of the Cascade
Mountains to the Columbia and Okanogan rivers;
Northern Cascades very jagged; Mt. Stuart (9,470
ft.), Glacier Peak (10,436 ft.); Southern Cascades
more rounded from erosion; Mt. Adams (12,307 ft.);
main rivers - Yakima, Kittitas, Wenatchee, Methow
The Eastern Cascades
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Climate: (Why do these climates prevail?)
Rainshadow Effect: windward side rainy; leeward
side dry. WHY?
* Highland up near the crest of the Cascades; 100 in.
precip. annually
* Semiarid nearer the Columbia; 12-30 in. precip.
annually
The Eastern Cascades
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Vegetation: (Why do these plants thrive here?)
*Coniferous - Douglas fir, silver fir, western larch,
ponderosa pine near the Cascade crest
*Deciduous - cottonwood, alder, and maple near
rivers/streams
*Other - grasses and sagebrush closer to the
Columbia and Okanogan rivers
The Eastern Cascades Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Observatory
Stonehenge
Maryhill Museum
John Day Dam
Goldendale Mt. Adams
Camping
The Eastern Cascades Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Ellensburg
Ellensburg Rodeo
Olmstead Place
Thorpe Mill
Wind Farms
Central Washington University
The Eastern Cascades Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Wenatchee
Rocky Reach Dam
The Columbia River
Ohme Gardens
Apple Industry Tours
Applets and Cottlets Tour
The Eastern Cascades Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
German Village
Hats and Ice Cream
Snow Mobiling
Ski Jump
Leavenworth
Christmas Decorations
Cross Country Skiing
Andrea’s Kellern
River Rafting
The Eastern Cascades Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
Chelan Boating
Water Skiing
Resorts
Fishing
House Boat Trips
Biking
Hiking
Hunting
The Eastern Cascades Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
The Old West Town
Cattle Drives
Bike and Hike
Horse Trails
Winthrop
Fiddle Contests
Resorts
Fishing
Birding
The Okanogan Highlands
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Physical Features: (What caused these
features?)
east of the Cascades across the northeastern
portion of the state; bordered by the Okanogan,
Columbia, and Spokane rivers; other rivers include
the San Poil, Pend Oreille, Colville rivers. Okanogan
Highlands, San Poil and Selkirk mountains, and a
small part of the Rockies, Golden Horn Batholith
The Okanogan Highlands
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Climate: (Why do these climates prevail?)
Very cold winters and warm summers; Snow falls
frequently during the cold and windy winters.
Summers are warm with little precipitation after
May and June.
* Highland – higher elevations
* Semiarid – lower elevations
The Okanogan Highlands
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Vegetation: (Why do these plants thrive here?)
*Coniferous – western larch, pine, Douglas and
silver fir
*Deciduous – alder, maple, ash
*Other – brush and grasses between the trees
The Okanogan Highlands Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Tonasket
Aeneas Lake, Cayuse Lake, etc.
Gateway to Mining Towns
Dude Ranches
Orchards
Camping
The Okanogan Highlands Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Republic
Gold Mines
Curlew Lake
Fishing
Antique car and Truck Museum
Boot Hill (Stonerose) Fossil Site
The Okanogan Highlands Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Kettle Falls
Kettle Falls
Walleye Tournament
“1550 Friendly People and One Grouch”
Silver and Lead Mines
The Okanogan Highlands Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
Colville
The Foot of the Rockies
Motorcycling
Snowmobiling
Hunting and Fishing
Hiking
More Cougar, Bear, and Moose than people
The Okanogan Highlands Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
“100 Best Small Towns in America”
Mountain Goats, Moose, Caribou
Boundary Dam
Metaline Canadian border
The Okanogan Highlands Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
Movies
Restaurants Spokane
Theaters (plays)
Colleges (Go Zags!)
Minor League Baseball
The Columbia Basin
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Physical Features: (What caused these
features?)
Mainly flat; extends east from the Columbia R. to
the Palouse Hills subregion; continues north to the
Columbia R. and the Okanogan Highlands; Columbia,
Snake, and Spokane rivers; plateaus make up main
features (Waterville and Columbia, etc.);
Channeled Scablands; coulees
The Columbia Basin
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Climate: (Why do these climates prevail?)
* Semiarid; less than 20 in. precip. annually (25
near the foothills; very hot and dry during the
summer; winter, in contrast, very cold, often has
drifting snow
The Columbia Basin
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Vegetation: (Why do these plants thrive here?)
*Sagebrush is common; trees are rare, except
along the occasional river bank;
*steppe grasses and sagebrush cover the
landscape;
*trees and a variety of plants thrive because near
the foothills of the Rockies due to increased
moisture falling on the foothills.
The Columbia Basin Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Wilbur
Wheat Fields
Grain Silos
Crop Circles
The Wilbur Drive-in
(home of the famous Billy Burger)
The Columbia Basin Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Roosevelt Lake (reservoir)
Colville Tribal Museum
Grand Coulee Dam
Laser Show
Camping
Grand Coulee
The Columbia Basin Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Banks Lake
Camping
Coulee City
Fishing
Dry Falls
Basalt Cliffs
Mosquitoes!!!
The Columbia Basin Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
George
Wind Farms
Rock Hounding
Crescent Bar
The Gorge Amphitheater
Orchards and Vineyards
Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park
The Columbia Basin Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
Tri-Cities (Kennewick/Pasco/Richland)
Hydroplane racing
Pasco Farmers’ Market
Waterfront Parks
Gesa Stadium
(home of the minor league
Dust Devils baseball team)
The Columbia Basin Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
Walla
Walla Whitman Mission
Whitman Hotel
Whitman College
Fort Walla Walla
State Penitentiary
Walla Walla Sweets
The Palouse Hills
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Physical Features: (What caused these features?)
Extreme southeast corner; south of the Spokane
valley to the Blue Mountains; major features =
Palouse hills (dune-like hills of loess), Blue
Mountains (highest peak is Oregon Butte (6,401 ft.),
Snake, Touchet, Walla Walla, Grand Rhonde, and
Tucannon rivers
The Palouse Hills
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Climate: (Why do these climates prevail?)
* Modified semiarid – lower hills; receives more
rain than the usual semiarid
* Highland – higher elevations of the Blue
Mountains; snow falls in this region during most of
the winter; winter tends to be very cold and windy;
summer, in contrast, tends to be very hot and dry
with little or no moisture after April.
The Palouse Hills
The physical features of a region determines the climate, which determines the
vegetation. These factors determine human activity.
Vegetation: (Why do these plants thrive here?)
*Coniferous – ponderosa pine along upper slopes of
mountains
*Deciduous – varied near water
*Other - steppe grasses, sagebrush
The Palouse Hills Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Dayton
1850s Homes
(117 on the National Register)
Mustard Hollow Cemetery
Lewis and Clark Trail
Touchet Corral Sno-Park
The Palouse Hills Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Pomeroy
Caruso’s Honey Company
Garfield County Courthouse
Wooten State Wildlife Area
Ranger District Cabins
The Palouse Hills Subregion
Attractions and Activities
Almota Boyer Park
Snake River
Scuba Diving
Little Goose Dam
Lower Granite Dam
The Palouse Hills Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
The Palouse Colfax
Steptoe Butte
Skate Park
The Codger Pole
The Palouse Hills Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
WSU Cougars
College Sports
Pullman Cougar Gold
Wheat Fields
Restaurants
The Palouse Hills Subregion
More Attractions and Activities
Hell’s Canyon
Asotin County Fair
Sunflower Days
Lewis and Clark Days
Clarkston Nez Perce History
Christmas in Clarkston
The Blue Mountains
The Snake River
Congratulations…
You made it all the
way across
Washington!