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Deserts
The Chihuahuan, Great Basin, Mojave, and Sonoran deserts are all at least partially within the West.
DesertUSA
Forests
Grasslands
Lakes
Oceans
Mountains
The Cascade Range is in Washington, Oregon, and California. It is all volcanoes. The Coast Ranges in California are mountains near the Pacific Ocean in that state. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are in California and Nevada. This is the tallest moutain range in the United States. The Rocky Mountains are the biggest moutain range in the nation. It goes through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah. The Continental Divide is in the Rocky Mountains.
Canyon Life
Yellowstone National Park
Yosemite National Park
Grand Teton National Park
Rocky Mountains
Rivers
Major rivers of the West include the Colorado River and the Columbia River (they both start with "Col"!). Some important rivers in this region were crossed on the Oregon Trail, including the Platte River and Snake River. The Snake River is a tributary of the Columbia River. Major tributaries of the Colorado River are the Green River in Utah and the Gila River in Arizona. The Missouri River goes through Montana and goes to the east, it's major tributary is the Yellowstone River in Wyoming, which goes through the national park. The Rio Grande goes straight through the center of New Mexico. It and the Platte, Colorado, and Arkansas rivers stick into Colorado. The Sacramento River and the San Joaquin River are the main rivers in California. The Yukon River and the Kuskowim River are the main rivers in Alaska. The Humboldt River is a large river in Nevada but it ends up in the Humboldt Sink instead of an ocean.
Grand Canyon National Park