Oregon
Having three of the most prominent mountain peaks in the country as well as the deepest lake in the United States, you are in for a literal high and low here in Oregon. With so many trails to traverse, national parks to visit, and history to learn, it is impossible to run out of things to see and visit here in Oregon.
Start knowing more about Oregon here.
Geography
Oregon is a pretty large state. It is the 9th largest state in the country. For further comparison, it is also slightly larger than the United Kingdom. The state of Oregon is, in fact, large enough to have two different time zones within the same state. Malheur County, specifically, follows a mountain time zone. Whereas the rest of the state follows the Pacific time zone.
If there are only two words to describe Oregon’s geography, it will be ‘high’ and ‘low’. The Western Oregon region is home to the three of the most prominent mountain peaks in the whole country. Simultaneously, Oregon is also home to the deepest lake in the country with Crater Lake plunging at 1,943 feet.
Since 60% of the state of Oregon is covered with forest, the state is blessed with wildlife. Within the state, there are already several national park systems including Crater Lake, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, and Oregon Caves National Monument ––just to name a few.
History
The area of Oregon has been inhabited for at least fifteen thousand years. By 8000 BC, archaeologists and historians have found evidence of settlements throughout the state. Mostly concentrating towards the lower Columbia River. The Europeans, led by the Spanish, only started exploring the area of Oregon by the 1560s. In short, the natives have lived in Oregon for thousands of years before the Europeans arrived.
With this much history, Oregon comes with a lot of cultural complexities and historical struggles and tragedies. While Oregon had a pretty shameful history when it comes to slavery and hhttps://www.nps.gov/orca/index.htmow it treated Black Americans, Oregon today is one of the most progressive states. Oregon was, in fact, the second state ever to legalize gay marriage, physician-assisted suicide, and recreational marijuana.
Weather
Thankfully, the climate for the most part of Oregon is mild. Of course, there are still significant differences between its regions. For instance, Western Oregon tends to have rainy weather all year round except for summer. The Southwestern portion has a more Mediterranian climate; dry and sunny even in winter. The northeastern region to have a much cooler weather than the first two regions. However, when compared with other places with equal elevation, the mountainous regions of Oregon are still relatively warm.
Of course, the eastern part with its desert tends to have very dry summers and cold and snowy winters. Just keep an eye out on the weather forecast for your area so you can dress accordingly.
Get to know the state of Oregon more. See The 5 Best Campgrounds in Oregon.
Key information about Oregon
📍 Area: 295,234 km2
👥 Population: 7,278,717
🏛️ Capital: Phoenix
🏢 Major cities: Tucson, Mesa, Chandler
🔢 Number of counties: 15
📋 Postal Abbreviation: OR
📖 Primary language/s: English
📌 Nearby states: California, Nevada, Idaho, Washington
Adventure Guides In Oregon
