Columbia Plateau
Pacific Northwest tableland
The Columbia Plateau is a vast basalt plain in the Pacific Northwest of North America, covering much of eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon, and western Idaho.
Formed by massive lava flows millions of years ago, it's characterized by flat to rolling terrain, deep river canyons, and semi-arid climate.
The Columbia River cuts through it, and much of the region supports agriculture through irrigation: The Columbia Plateau produces most of the nation's wheat.
- scablandsFlood-eroded basalt terrain
- couleesSteep-walled dry valleys
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
- loessWind-deposited silt layer
- indigenous tribesOriginal inhabitants of regions
petroglyphs · arid climate · Snake River · lava flows · wheat fields · steppe · sagebrush · high desert · aquifers · volcanic ash · grasslands · river valleys · pioneer settlements · dryland · magma · Washington · irrigation systems · cultural heritage sites
- American LandformsGrand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, Rockies, Appalachian Mountains, Appalachians
- Pacific NorthwestAlaska, Seattle, Oregon, Vancouver, Washington
- US LandformsAppalachian Mountains, Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, Great Basin, Cascade Range
- American geologyGrand Canyon, Yellowstone, Rocky Mountains, Appalachians, Sierra Nevada
- PlateausAltiplano, tableland, mesa, tablelands, Pamirs
- prehistoric sitesStonehenge, Lascaux, Carnac, Altamira, Cro-Magnon
Columbia PlateauCascade Range
Pacific Northwest volcanic mountains
Rocky Mountains · mountain range · Sierra Nevada · alpine peaks · canyon
Columbia PlateauEverglades
Florida's vast subtropical preserve
Great Smoky Mountains · temperate rainforest · tropical jungle · wetlands · boreal forest