HISTORICAL REGIONS (49+1)
Regions
are geographical areas of a nominal 2.5 degree latitude by 2 degree longitude
size that encompassed significant historical activity prior to 1850. They
are roughly confined to CA, OR/WA, E. MT/ND/SD, MN/WI, ID/WY/W. MT, UT/CO, NE/IA, KS/MO/IL/KY,
OK/AR/TN/MS, AZ/NM, TX/LA, S. TX and an interstitial area of deserts, plains and
mountains.
STATES
Twenty seven U.S. states are considered the American West for this web site.
Twenty two west of the Mississippi River and five east of the river. portions of
Canada and Mexico adjacent to the western states played an important role in
their development.
RIVERS
Eleven major river systems provided access and water transport
into, out of and within the western U.S. Six of these were navigable by large
boats at significant distances below, and in a few cases, between impassible cataracts.
Many tributary streams could also be classified as river systems. The eleven
major systems are:
MOUNTAINS
The mountains of the west were formed by tectonic
plate collisions, aperiodic upthrusts, volcanic eruptions, glaciation, and water
and wind erosion. Their orientation, weather, height, passes, flora and fauna
had a profound influence on how the west was explored and developed. Vast areas
within the western mountains remained unknown until the 20th century.
