Chapters Twelve & Thirteen - The Rocky Mountain Region & The Intermontane West

Geography
The Rocky Mountain region is comprised of numerous, disconnected mountain ranges that span from New Mexico into the region's Canadian portion.

The Rocky Mountain Region

The Intermontane West is a clearly defined region, which extends from the Rockies to the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range, and stretches from British Columbia to Mexico.  The region is characterized by plateaus, basins, and blocky mountains.

The Intermontane West

Weather
The weather in the Rockies is usually mild, contrary to popular belief.  The region does not receive much precipitation, but rainfall levels increase with altitude.
The Intermontane West experiences a very dry climate which includes different climate realms.  Based on amount of precipitation received in each part of the region, those living in the Intermontane West can live in sub-humid, semi-arid, moderately arid, and extremely arid climate zones.

Economy
Although the majority of the Rocky Mountain region's land is not suitable for agriculture, due to the arid or semi-arid climate and rugged topography, a few select areas are appropriate for the growth of commercial crops.  Because of this, ranching is a much more common trade.  Mining and lumbering are also major contributors to the region's economy, as the major mineral wealth of the region can be found in copper, silver, gold, and oil.

Copper mine

The Intermontane West has found much success in irrigated agriculture. As the region is very dry, irrigation is necessary for agriculture to thrive.  Many also ranch in this region.  Tourism is a major economic sector in the Intermontane West.  Tourism is mainly driven by the presence of the national parks in the region.

Zion National Park

In cities like Denver in the Rocky Mountain Region, as well as in the Intermontane West, similarities can be drawn to New York City.  NYC is a large, influential metropolitan area, whose economy is highly driven by tourism.

Works Cited -
http://www.fs.usda.gov/r2/
http://newyorkgeo321.weebly.com/the-intermontane-west.html