The 50 States: West and Territories¶

Summary¶

This chapter completes our tour of the 50 states by covering the Western states, including the Mountain states and Pacific states, as well as Alaska and Hawaii. Students will learn about the diverse geography of the American West, from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast, and understand how Alaska and Hawaii's unique locations affect their geography and climate.

Concepts Covered¶

This chapter covers the following 16 concepts from the learning graph:

West Region
Mountain States
Pacific States
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio

Prerequisites¶

This chapter builds on concepts from:

Introduction to the American West¶

The West Region is the largest part of the United States. It stretches from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, and includes Alaska far to the north and Hawaii in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

The West is known for:

Dramatic landscapes: Mountains, deserts, canyons, and coastlines
Wide open spaces: Some western states have more land than people!
Natural wonders: National parks like Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon
Diverse climates: From tropical Hawaii to arctic Alaska

The Mountain States¶

The Mountain States are named for the Rocky Mountains, which run through this region like a giant spine. These states have high elevations, cold winters in the mountains, and spectacular scenery.

Colorado¶

Colorado is the highest state on average—its average elevation is over 6,800 feet! The state is famous for:

The Rocky Mountains
Skiing and snowboarding (Aspen, Vail, and other resorts)
Denver, the "Mile High City" (exactly one mile above sea level)
Outdoor activities like hiking and camping

Mile High City

Denver is called the Mile High City because it sits exactly 5,280 feet (one mile) above sea level. At Coors Field baseball stadium, the 20th row of seats is painted purple to mark the mile-high elevation!

Montana¶

Montana means "mountain" in Spanish, and the Rocky Mountains cover the western part of the state. Montana is known for:

Big Sky Country (wide open spaces and beautiful skies)
Glacier National Park
Cattle ranching
Being the 4th largest state but having fewer than 1.2 million people

Idaho¶

Idaho is called the "Gem State" because almost every type of gemstone has been found there. But Idaho is most famous for potatoes! The state produces more potatoes than any other.

Idaho also has:

Wilderness areas and national forests
The Snake River and Hells Canyon (deeper than the Grand Canyon!)
Ski resorts and hot springs

Nevada¶

Nevada means "snow-covered" in Spanish (for the Sierra Nevada mountains), but most of the state is actually desert! Nevada is known for:

Las Vegas, famous for entertainment and casinos
The Mojave Desert
Area 51, a mysterious military base
Being the driest state in America

Arizona¶

Arizona is home to one of the world's most famous natural wonders—the Grand Canyon! The state has:

Desert landscapes with saguaro cacti
The Grand Canyon (277 miles long, over a mile deep!)
Native American reservations, including the Navajo Nation
Hot, dry weather (Phoenix is one of the hottest cities in America)

New Mexico¶

New Mexico has been home to Native American peoples for thousands of years and was part of Spain and Mexico before becoming a US territory. The state is known for:

Adobe architecture (buildings made of sun-dried bricks)
Hispanic and Native American cultures
The Rio Grande river
White Sands National Park
Spicy food with green and red chile peppers

State	Capital	Famous For
Colorado	Denver	Rocky Mountains, skiing
Montana	Helena	Big Sky Country, Glacier NP
Idaho	Boise	Potatoes
Nevada	Carson City	Las Vegas, deserts
Arizona	Phoenix	Grand Canyon
New Mexico	Santa Fe	Adobe architecture, Native culture

Diagram: Mountain States¶

Mountain States Interactive Map **Type**: microsim **Learning Objective**: Students will identify (L1) Mountain states and locate (L1) the Rocky Mountains running through the region. **Bloom Level**: Remember **Bloom Verbs**: identify, locate, name

MicroSim Description: An interactive map of the Mountain states showing the Rocky Mountains as a 3D elevation feature. Students click on each state to see its capital, key features, and famous landmarks. The map shows elevation changes with shading—higher areas appear darker. National parks are marked with icons.

UI Complexity: Medium - 3D elevation map with clickable states and national park markers

Instructional Rationale: Seeing the Rocky Mountains as a continuous feature helps students understand why these states share the "Mountain States" name and have similar geography.

The Pacific States¶

The Pacific States border the Pacific Ocean. They have beautiful coastlines, major cities, and diverse landscapes.

California¶

California is the most populous state in America—almost 40 million people live there! It's also the third-largest state by area. California has incredible variety:

Coastline: Beautiful beaches from San Diego to San Francisco
Mountains: The Sierra Nevada, including Mount Whitney (highest peak in lower 48)
Deserts: Death Valley (lowest and hottest place in North America!)
Forests: Giant sequoia and redwood trees, the largest trees on Earth
Cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego

California is also:

America's top farming state
Home to Hollywood and the entertainment industry
A center for technology (Silicon Valley)

California Extremes

California has both the highest point (Mount Whitney, 14,505 feet) and the lowest point (Death Valley, 282 feet below sea level) in the lower 48 states—and they're only about 85 miles apart!

Plains States in the West¶

Some states are part of the Great Plains but are often grouped with the West.

Nebraska¶

Nebraska is covered by the Great Plains. The state is known for:

Corn farming (second only to Iowa)
Cattle ranching
The Oregon Trail passed through here
Chimney Rock, a famous landmark for pioneers

North Dakota¶

North Dakota is a northern plains state with:

Wheat and sunflower farming
Oil production
Very cold winters
Theodore Roosevelt National Park

States from Other Regions (Completing the 50)¶

This chapter also introduces a few states that are part of other regions but complete our tour of all 50 states.

Ohio¶

Ohio is actually a Midwest state (covered conceptually with the Great Lakes States). It's known for:

Cleveland and Cincinnati, major cities
Being called the "Buckeye State"
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Important manufacturing history

North Carolina¶

North Carolina is a Southeast state with:

The Blue Ridge Mountains in the west
Beautiful beaches on the Outer Banks
Charlotte, a major banking center
Where the Wright Brothers made the first airplane flight

Alaska: The Last Frontier¶

Alaska is America's largest state—by far! It's more than twice the size of Texas. Alaska is separated from the rest of the United States by Canada.

Alaska's Geography¶

Alaska has extreme geography:

Mountains: Mount Denali (20,310 feet) is the tallest peak in North America
Glaciers: More than 100,000 glaciers cover the state
Coastline: Alaska has more coastline than all other US states combined!
Wilderness: Most of Alaska is untouched wilderness

Alaska's Climate¶

Alaska has different climates:

Southeast Alaska: Mild and rainy (similar to the Pacific Northwest)
Interior Alaska: Very cold winters (-40°F or colder!) and warm summers
Arctic Alaska: Cold all year, with permafrost (permanently frozen ground)

Alaska's Daylight¶

Because Alaska is so far north, daylight changes dramatically:

Summer: Some places have 24 hours of daylight (the "Midnight Sun")
Winter: Some places have 24 hours of darkness

Alaska Records

Alaska is the northernmost, westernmost, AND easternmost US state! The Aleutian Islands stretch so far west they cross into the Eastern Hemisphere.

Hawaii: The Aloha State¶

Hawaii is the only US state that's completely made of islands. It's located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, about 2,400 miles from California.

Hawaii's Geography¶

Hawaii is actually a chain of volcanic islands:

8 main islands: Hawaii (the Big Island), Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, and Kahoolawe
Active volcanoes: Kilauea on the Big Island is one of the world's most active volcanoes
Tropical beaches: Famous for surfing and snorkeling
Mountains: Mauna Kea is taller than Mount Everest when measured from its base on the ocean floor!

Hawaii's Climate¶

Hawaii has a tropical climate:

Warm temperatures year-round (70-85°F)
Plenty of rain on the windward (eastern) sides of islands
Drier weather on the leeward (western) sides
No real winter—just a slightly cooler "wet season"

Hawaii's Culture¶

Hawaii has a unique culture:

Native Hawaiian traditions: Hula dancing, luaus, and aloha spirit
Polynesian heritage: Hawaii was settled by Polynesian voyagers
Diverse population: People from many Asian and Pacific backgrounds
Tourism: Millions of visitors come each year for beaches and nature

State	Capital	Famous For
Alaska	Juneau	Largest state, glaciers, Mount Denali
Hawaii	Honolulu	Only island state, volcanoes, beaches

Diagram: Alaska and Hawaii¶

Alaska and Hawaii Interactive Map **Type**: microsim **Learning Objective**: Students will compare (L4) the size and location of Alaska and Hawaii to the lower 48 states and identify (L1) key features of each state. **Bloom Level**: Analyze **Bloom Verbs**: compare, identify, contrast

MicroSim Description: An interactive display showing Alaska and Hawaii at their correct scale compared to the lower 48 states. Students can overlay Alaska onto the lower 48 to see how large it really is. For Hawaii, students can explore each island and learn about volcanoes, beaches, and cities. The simulation shows climate zones, daylight hours by season, and key geographic features.

UI Complexity: Medium - Scale comparison tools with clickable regions and seasonal information

Instructional Rationale: Understanding the true scale of Alaska and Hawaii's unique island geography helps students appreciate how different these states are from the contiguous 48 states.

The West Region: Bringing It Together¶

The West is united by:

Mountains: The Rockies, Sierra Nevada, and Cascades
Wide open spaces: The least densely populated part of the country
Natural wonders: More national parks than any other region
Growth: Many western cities are among America's fastest growing

Western National Parks¶

Park	State	Famous For
Grand Canyon	Arizona	Mile-deep canyon
Yellowstone	Wyoming/Montana/Idaho	Geysers, wildlife
Yosemite	California	Granite cliffs, waterfalls
Glacier	Montana	Mountain glaciers
Hawaii Volcanoes	Hawaii	Active volcanoes
Denali	Alaska	Tallest peak in North America

Key Takeaways¶

What You Learned

The West Region includes Mountain States, Pacific States, Alaska, and Hawaii
The Rocky Mountains give the Mountain States their name
California is the most populous state with incredibly diverse geography
Alaska is the largest state—bigger than Texas, California, and Montana combined
Hawaii is the only island state and has a tropical climate and volcanic origin

Review Questions¶

What is special about Denver's elevation?

Denver is called the "Mile High City" because it sits at exactly 5,280 feet (one mile) above sea level. At Coors Field baseball stadium, the 20th row of seats is painted purple to mark the mile-high elevation. This high altitude affects sports (baseballs fly farther!) and visitors sometimes feel the thin air.

How is Hawaii different from all other US states?

Hawaii is different in many ways:

It's the only island state (completely surrounded by ocean)
It's located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, about 2,400 miles from California
It has a tropical climate with warm weather year-round
It was formed by volcanoes and still has active volcanoes today
It has a unique Polynesian culture unlike any other state

Why is Alaska called 'The Last Frontier'?

Alaska is called "The Last Frontier" because:

It's the largest and most remote US state
Much of it is untouched wilderness
It has extreme conditions (cold, darkness in winter, permafrost)
It wasn't a state until 1959 (one of the last two states added)
Fewer than 750,000 people live in this huge area

What makes California's geography so diverse?

California has incredibly diverse geography including:

Beaches and coastline along the Pacific Ocean
Mountains: The Sierra Nevada with Mount Whitney
Deserts: Death Valley, the lowest and hottest place in North America
Forests: Giant sequoia and redwood trees
Farmland: America's top agricultural state

California has both the highest and lowest points in the lower 48 states, only 85 miles apart!

What are the Mountain States, and what do they have in common?

The Mountain States include Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. They share:

The Rocky Mountains running through them
High elevations and spectacular scenery
Dry climates in many areas
Wide open spaces with low population density
Many national parks and wilderness areas

Compare Alaska and Hawaii: What extreme differences do these states have?

Alaska and Hawaii are opposite extremes in many ways:

Feature	Alaska	Hawaii
Size	Largest state	One of smallest
Climate	Arctic to subarctic (cold)	Tropical (warm)
Geography	Mountains, glaciers, tundra	Volcanic islands, beaches
Location	Far northwest	Middle of Pacific
Daylight	24-hour days/nights at extremes	Normal day/night all year
Connection	Borders Canada	Isolated in ocean