“The Land of the West”

Lesson 1: A Land of MountainsMain Idea: The land of the West includes

many mountains.

Places: Rocky Mountains, Continental Divide, and Yellowstone National Park

Vocabulary: timberline, geyser, magma, volcano, lava

The Rocky MountainsLargest mountain system in North America.

“The Rockies”Made of smaller ranges- Salish, Beartooth-

Absaroka, Big Horn, Wasatch, Bitteroot, Cascades

Landmarks- Pikes Peak in COExtends 3,000 miles from New Mexico to

AlaskaRuns through Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho,

and Montana

The Rocky MountainsContinental Divide: imaginary line that runs

along the crest of the Rockies. Rivers on the east run to the Atlantic Ocean or

the Gulf of MexicoRivers on the west flow to the Pacific Ocean

The Rocky MountainsHigh elevation

Trees would not grow above the timberlineHigh peaks are mostly covered in snow year-

round

Animals in the Rocky Mountains include:Forest: grizzly bear, mountain lions, elk, minkValleys: chipmunks, coyotes, mooseRivers: fishAbove Timberline: mountain goats, bighorn sheep

The Rocky MountainsEconomy: production, distribution, and

consumption of goods and servicesUse natural resources

MineralsRanch landTimber

Use TourismHiking, skiing, mountain climbing, and scenery

What is Continental Divide?

Name some activities vistors to the Rocky Mountains would enjoy.

Yellowstone National ParkYNP: Oldest national park in the world

Established in 1872Covers over 2.2 million acresIncludes parts of Wyoming, Idaho, Montana

Natural attractions: Mountains, canyons, waterfalls, lakes, forests,

and wildlifeGeysers: hot spring that erupts, shooting hot

water into the air 10,000 hot springs and geysers in Yellowstone

Yellowstone National ParkOld Faithful is the most popular geyser

Erupts every 45-110 minutesShoots more than 100 feet into the air

Park located over a “hot spot” in Earth’s crustWhere magma (molten rock) lies close to

Earth’s surface rather than deep undergroundHeats groundwater that rises causing geysers

and hot springs

Yellowstone National ParkWildlife roam free

Elk, moose, grizzly and black bears, wolves, bison

No hunting animals within park boundariesFishing is allowed in limited accessWildfire: 1988 many acres of forest burned

By following year, new growth had begunProvided chance to study fires and forests’

recovery

What heats the geysers and hot springs?

Name six types of wildlife that attract tourists to Yellowstone.

How are forests able to recover after wildfires?

Western Mountain RangesSierra Nevada: through eastern California

and western NevadaHigh & ruggedSome peaks rise higher than 14,000 feet above

sea levelCascade Range: in Washington and California

Has volcanoesAleutian Range: in Alaska

Has volcanoes

Western Mountain Ranges

Volcano: mountain with an opening through which gas, ash, and lava are forced through.Lava: molten rock (magma) that flows on

Earth’s surfaceHawaii: all ranges are volcanoes

Mountains that rose from the ocean floorMount Kilauea

Summarize what you have learned todayName four mountain ranges in the western

region.