Oregon Geography and Climate
Geography
Oregon's geography may be split roughly into eight areas: Oregon Coast—west of the Coast Range; Willamette Valley; Rogue Valley; Cascade Mountains; Klamath Mountains; Columbia River Plateau; Oregon Outback; Blue Mountains.
The mountainous regions of western Oregon, home to four of the most prominent mountain peaks of the United States including Mount Hood, were formed by the volcanic activity of Juan de Fuca Plate, a tectonic plate that poses a continued threat of volcanic activity and earthquakes in the region. The most recent major activity was the 1700 Cascadia earthquake.
The Columbia River, which forms much of the northern border of Oregon, also played a major role in the region's geological evolution, as well as its economic and cultural development. The Columbia is one of North America's largest rivers, and one of two rivers to cut through the Cascades. Oregon's landscape varies from rain forest in the Coast Range to barren desert in the southeast, which still meets the technical definition of a frontier.
Oregon is 295 miles/475 km north to south at longest distance, and 395 miles/636 km east to west at longest distance. In land and water area, Oregon is the ninth largest state, covering 98,381 square miles/254,810 square kilometres. The highest point in Oregon is the summit of Mount Hood, at 11,239 feet/3,426 metres, and its lowest point is sea level of the Pacific Ocean along the Oregon coast. Its mean elevation is 3,300 feet/1,006 metres.
Crater Lake National Park is the state's only national park and the site of Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the US at 1,943 feet/592 metres. Oregon claims the D River is the shortest river in the world, though the American state of Montana makes the same claim of its Roe River. Oregon is also home to Mill Ends Park, the smallest park in the world at 452 square inches/0.29 square kilometres. Oregon's geographical center is farther west than any of the other 48 contiguous states.
Sport Fishing
Oregon has the following sport fish: Barracuda, Halibut, Tuna, Walleye, Salmon, Trout, Sturgeon, Yellow Perch, Sauger, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Kelp Bass, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout.
The top sport fish are Smallmouth bass, Salmon, Tuna, Lake Trout and Northern Pike.
Climate
Oregon has a generally temperate climate, but there are marked regional variations. The Cascade Range separates the state into two broad climatic zones: the western third, with relatively heavy precipitation and moderate temperatures, and the eastern two thirds, with relatively little precipitation and more extreme temperatures. Within these general regions, climate depends largely on elevation and land configuration.
In January, normal daily mean temperatures range from more than 45°F/7°C in the coastal sections to between 25°F/–4°C and 28°F/–2°C in the southeast. In July, the normal daily means range between 65°F/18°C and 70°F/21°C in the plateau regions and central valleys and between 70°F/21°C and 78°F/26°C along the eastern border. Oregon's record low temperature, –54°F/–48°C, was registered at Seneca on 10 February 1933; the all-time high, 119°F/48°C, at Pendleton on August 10, 1898.
The Cascades serve as a barrier to the warm, moist winds blowing in from the Pacific, confining most precipitation to western Oregon. The average annual rainfall (1971–2000) in Portland was 37 inches/94 cm. Rainfall elsewhere varied from less than 8 inches/20 cm in the drier plateau regions to as much as 200 inches/508 cm at locations on the upper west slopes of the Coast Range. In the Blue Mountains and the Columbia River Basin, totals are about 15 inches/38 cm to 20 inches/51 cm. In Portland, fog is common, and the sun shines, on average, during only 39% of the daylight hours—one of the lowest such percentages for any major US city. From 300 inches/760 cm to 550 inches/1,400 cm of snow falls each year in the highest reaches of the Cascades.
|
Advertising with us is quick and easy. We offer advertising to fit any budget and accept all major forms of secure online payment. To start advertising with us, refer to our Advertising page.
:: Advertise With Us
We encourage a reciprocal link policy. If you have a web site that relates directly to bass fishing, either personal or commercial, please link to http://www.bassfishing-gurus.com and we'll be happy to provide a link in return. For information on how to link to us, please refer to our Link To Us page.
:: Link To Us
 |
|
