Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest (PNW) is an area often defined as northwestern corner of the continental United States. Its boundaries are imprecise: the Pacific coast states of Washington and Oregon are always included, with northern Idaho and northern California a common addition, although extreme eastern Oregon near Boise may be excluded because of the Rocky Mountain influence. Montana west of the Continental Divide, esp. the extreme west near Missoula is sometimes also included.

Geography

The Pacific Northwest is dominated by several mountain ranges, including the Coast Ranges, the Cascade Range, and the Rocky Mountains. Because many areas have plentiful rainfall and a relatively low population density, it has:

Related Topics:
Coast Ranges - Cascade Range - Rocky Mountains

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• some of North America's most extensive forests;
• more than its share of aluminum refineries, due to plentiful and inexpensive hydroelectric power from, for example, the hydroelectric dams on the Columbia River run by agencies such as the Bonneville Power Administration.

The major cities of Vancouver, Portland, and Seattle all began as seaports supporting the logging, mining, and farming industries of the region, but have developed into major technological and industrial centers (such as the Silicon Forest), which benefit from their location on the Pacific Rim.

Related Topics:
Vancouver - Portland - Seattle - Seaport - Silicon Forest - Pacific Rim

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