THE NORTH PACIFIC COAST
(CHAPTER 16: PART 1)
INTRODUCTION
• The North Pacific Coast has also been labeled as "Ecotopia."
• Strongly subjected to a Maritime influence and dominated by rugged terrain
•Relatively isolated from the rest of North America, much to the satisfaction of its inhabitants
• The region is mapped on page 367.
NORTH PACIFIC COAST
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
•CLIMATE The region of heaviest annual precipitation
amounts on the continent Average precipitation >75 inches/year is
common. 150 inches/year is the norm on the western
side of the coastal ranges. Parts of Vancouver Island receives about 230
inches/ year Winter precipitation exceeds summer
amounts throughout the region.
PRECIPITATIONPATTERNS
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
CLIMATE (continued) Abundant rainfall supports
tremendous tree growth in areas such as the Olympic Peninsula.
Orographic Rainfall (precipitation that results when moist air is lifted over a topographic barrier) is the dominant source of precipitation in the region.
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
•TOPOGRAPHY The Coast Ranges-Oregon and
Washington
Reach elevations of 4,000 feet Responsible for the rain shadow effect (see
map on page 368). Further inland are the rugged Cascades
Extend north into British Columbia Merge with the Insular Mountains, and
are known as the Coast Mountains
PHYSIOGRAPHICPROVINCES
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
TOPOGRAPHY (continued) Mt. McKinley is located at the region's
northern extremity 20,320 feet in elevation- the highest point in North
America The mountain's vertical rise (in excess of 18,000
feet) is the highest in the world.
The St. Elias Mountains in Canada are the world's highest coastal mountains Mt. Logan reaches a height of 19,700 feet.
SETTLEMENT PATTERNS
•AMERICAN INDIANS Pre-European population of the area - relatively large Based on a simple hunting and gathering economy
Depended largely on deer and salmon, and supplemented by berries, roots, and shellfish
Large concentrations of Indians were found along the coast, particularly in coastal valleys. Some tribes constructed large dugout canoes of
cedar and became notable seafarers. The Puyallups are one of the few remaining tribes
Fairly well known because of recent legislation granting them “salmon rights”
SETTLEMENT PATTERNS
•EUROPEANS Russians were the first Europeans to establish
settlements along the coast. Initially established settlements during the late 1700s Consisted mainly of fur-trading posts ranging from
Southeast Alaska to Northern California. U.S./Canadian boundary @ 49 North -1846 Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 for
the paltry sum of 7.2 million dollars. Oregon's population - strong New England
heritage Washington - large number of people with
Scandinavian roots
SETTLEMENT PATTERNS
•MAJOR CITIES TODAY VANCOUVER
Canada's third largest city More than 1.2 million people Planners expect the city to double is size
within 30 years. Vancouver serves as the western outlet for
Interior Canada. Canada's busiest port, focused on wood
products and wheat that is destined for Asian markets.
VANCOUVER
SETTLEMENT PATTERNS
MAJOR CITIES TODAY (continued) SEATTLE
Largest city of the North Pacific Coast - late 1800s Founded as a logging center. Since WWI, it has been the home of Boeing
Aircraft Sometimes referred to as the world's largest
"company town," as Boeing had 103,000 employees during the 1960's.
Employment at Boeing subsequently fell to about 50,000 by the early 70s
Rebounded in the 1980s, providing more than 106,000 jobs by the end of the decade.
Today, a middle-class city, appealing by any survey.
SEATTLE
SETTLEMENT PATTERNS
MAJOR CITIES TODAY (continued) PORTLAND
Serves as the agricultural focus and shipment point for western grain.
Food processing and the manufacturing of wood products are key industries to the city.
Boasts a more diversified economy than Seattle’s.
REGIONAL ECONOMY
•FORESTRY British Columbia produces 45% of Canada's timber. Washington, Oregon, and California account for
more than 50% of the U.S. total. Douglas Fir is the species that is currently of
prime importance. Although the region's first major industry, forestry
was not nationally important until the early 1900s. Current cutting techniques include "selective
cutting," "shelterwood cutting," and "clear cutting".
Japan has been a major market for North America timber, especially from Alaska and British Columbia.
REGIONAL ECONOMY
•FORESTRY (continued) Controversy surrounds the use of "clear cutting"
and the harvesting of Northern California redwoods, the world's tallest (and among the oldest) trees.
A target for preservationists, the Redwood National Park was established in the late 1960s.
•POWER AND DAMS The plentiful precipitation and rugged topography
of the area provides hydroelectric potential unmatched anywhere in North America.
The rivers of Oregon and Washington account for over 40% of the U.S.'s hydroelectric potential.
REGIONAL ECONOMY
POWER AND DAMS Columbia River has the greatest power generating
potential in the region A flow volume greater than the Mississippi River A drop of nearly 1,000 feet during the course of its
750 mi route from U.S./Canadian border to the sea. Grand Coulee - the region's largest dam
Completed in 1933, and ten more dams have since been constructed downstream.
Recent addition of new generators at Grand Coulee Dam have tripled its capacity
The world's largest single power producer.
REGIONAL ECONOMY
POWER AND DAMS Cheap power has succeeded in attracting a
number of heavy power-using industries to the region, similar to scenarios with the TVA or Niagara River Project.
No dams are permitted in Hell's Canyon World's deepest gorge, cut by the Snake River between Oregon and Idaho
This section of the Snake was classified as a "Wild and Scenic River" in 1975.
AGRICULTURE
• Most of the region's crops are grown for local markets. • Impacts of transferability & intervening
opportunity Producing areas and products
Willamett River Valley- forage crops, dairy products, and strawberries
Puget Sound Lowlands (Washington)- dairy products and peas
Yakima and Wenatchee Valley- apples via irrigation from the streams and rivers of the Cascades
"Hilly Country" (east-central Washington)- wheat via dry farming
THE NORTH PACIFIC COAST
(CHAPTER 16: PART 1)