Oregon - Political
 
CapitalSalem
Largest CityPortland
Major CitiesEugene, Medford, Bend
NicknamesBeaver State
Area97,073 sq. miles
Population2,842,321
 
Oregon - Physical features
 
Mountain Ranges/PlateausCoast Ranges, Cascades, Blue Mts, Wallowa Mts, Columbia Plateau
PeaksMount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Three Sisters (North, South and Middle Sister volcanoes)
DepressionsWillamette Valley, Great Basin, Great Sandy Desert, Harney Basin
LakesCrater Lake, Goose Lake
RiversColumbia, Snake, Deschutes, John Day
Highest PointMount Hood
Bordering StatesWashington (north), Idaho (east), Nevada (southeast), California (south)
National ParksCrater Lake National Park
Key ProductsTimber, Fish, Grass Seed
Natural ResourcesWood and Forests
 
Oregon - History
 
1805Meriwether Lewis and William Clark reach the Pacific Ocean, and spend the winter in Oregon at Fort Clatsop.
1843Settlers hearing of the fertile soils of the Willamette Valley reach Oregon via the Oregon Trail.
1859Oregon gets enough population to become the 33rd state.
Present DayPortland, located on the swirling waters of the Columbia, attracts millions of tourists each year due to its geographic location close to 160 state parks and brilliant views of snow-capped Mount Hood and the Cascade and Coast Ranges.
 
Oregon - Facts
 
  • Mount Mazama’s eruption in 4860 B.C caused the volcano to collapse into itself. This formed a large, circular depression which is today filled by Crater Lake, a tourist attraction protected in a national park. Crater Lake is the country’s deepest. A samll cone-shaped island known as Wizard Island jots through the center of the lake.
  • The D river, which flows into the Pacific Ocean near Lincoln City, is the world’s shortest river.
  • Hells Canyon, located on Oregon’s border with Idaho along the Snake River, is North America’s deepest canyon.