The Western Cordillera region contains mountain ranges like the Rocky Mountains that form the Continental Divide. It has some of the wettest areas on Earth due to influence from the Pacific Ocean, though summers in the interior are warmer. The region contains the largest range of vegetation types, from tundra near mountaintops to giant sequoia trees in Yosemite. However, human activities like logging, mining, and reservoir construction have disrupted the environment through increased erosion and altered stream flows and temperatures. Economic activities include fishing for salmon and sockeye as well as logging, pulp production, and copper mining.

1. Western Cordillera
8 Physical Regions of North America

2. Topography
● Mountain ranges
● Separated by plateaus and valleys
● Rocky Mountains form Continental Divide
● New mountains twice the height of Appalachian

3. Climate
● Wettest parts on Earth
● Interior summers are warmer
● Moderated by Pacific Ocean
● Winters usually above freezing

4. Vegetation
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Largest Vegetation Range
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Similar to Tundra near mountaintops
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Giant Sequoia grows near Yosemite

5. Environmental Concerns
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Erosion caused stream silting
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Reservoirs disrupted stream flow & temperature
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Logging & Oil exploration cause erosion

6. Economic Activity
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Sockeye & Salmon Fishing
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Logging and Pulp
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Mining primarily copper