geography of wyoming

Wyoming comes from the Dakota "mscheweamiing" meaning "at the big flats" or "large plains."

“The Equality State”“The Suffrage State”“The Sagebrush State”

“The Cowboy State”

“Big Wyoming”“The Wonderland of America”

1. The Great Plains

2. The Rockies

3. The Intermontane Basins

1. The Great Plains

--Flat prairie/rolling hills --Cottonwoods and shrubs grow along rivers

What economic activities take place here? (What is done to make money?)

Mining – WY produces 41% of the country’s coal, and ranks #2 in natural gas production.Oil - #7.

Ranching – raising animals.

WY is a major producer of sheep and wool, as well as beef cattle.

Why is WY not well-suited for farming?

Main crops – hay, sugar beets, barley

What are the major cities of this region?CheyenneCasperLaramieGillette

2. The Rockies

--Consist of the Rocky Mountains and Big Horns.--Also the Laramie Range, Wind River Range, and Grand Tetons.

2. The Rockies

What economic activities take place here? (What do people do for a living?)

What are some animals found here that are not as common on the plains?

Highest Point – Gannett Peak – 13,804 feet

Falls of the Yellowstone River, early morning. Yellowstone National

Park What are the major cities of this region?Sheridan, Cody, Jackson, Evanston

3. The Intermontane Basins--Means “between mountains”--Short grass and low brush

--Few trees and little rain

--The Red Desert is located here.

3. The Intermontane Basins

Why is it so dry here?

What economic activities take place here?

3. The Intermontane Basins

What are the biggest cities?

Rock SpringsGreen RiverRiverton

Highest temp - 114° July 12, 1900 in Basin.

Lowest temp - -63° February 9, 1933 in Moran.Wyoming has the second-highest average elevation of any state (6,700 feet). Which state is higher?

Why does Wyoming have a relatively cool climate?

Why does the northwest receive the most amount of precipitation?

Major Rivers – Bighorn, Green, Belle Fourche, Powder, North Platte, Snake

North Platte River

Snake River

Major Lakes – Yellowstone, Bighorn

Major Reservoirs – Glendo, Boysen, Flaming Gorge, Seminoe, Alcova, Keyhole

Keyhole State Park

What is the difference between a lake and a reservoir?Why does Wyoming have so many reservoirs?

Wyoming has the lowest population of any state (515,000) and the second-lowest density (5 per sq. mile).

Why is Wyoming’s density so low?

Residents of Wyoming are known as Wyomingites.

White – 86%

Hispanic – 8%

Native American – 3%

African-American – 1.5%

Average lifetime: 74 (rank 25th)

Largest Cities:

1. Cheyenne

2. Casper

3. Laramie

4. Gillette

5. Rock Springs

Bird

Tree Fish

Flower Gemstone Mammal