The Rocky Mountain Region
The Rocky Mountain region is home to The Rockies, The Cascades, and The Canadian Coast ranges. Erosion and glaciation have impacted the regions topography. U-shaped valleys are marked by water erosion the same way V-shaped valleys are shaped by glaciation. Major landscape features lie in the Colorado and Columbia plateaus such as rivers and canyons. The climate in this region is arid to semi-arid and contains much of North America's desert land. Both tourists and hunters are drawn to this region of the U.S. because of the diverse wildlife populations. A few key characteristics about certain areas of this region make it very unique. For example state of Nevada is 90% owned by the government and is home to the Las Vegas strip. A casino-filled town with 4.2 mile stretch with more hotel rooms than any other city in the world. Yet just a little further east, we find a densely populated area of Mormons in Salt Lake City, Utah --which is the center of Mormon cultural influence. The Rocky Mountain region is involved in the primary sector for economic growth. Back in 1882, copper, silver, and gold were discovered. Today, ranching is prevalent on private & federal lands and mining & lumbering continue to be significant.
Resources :
Hardwick, Susan, Fred M. Shelley, and Donald G. Holtgrieve.
The Geography of North America. Illinois: Pearson College Division.