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Idaho Geology

Idaho Geology. The Plateau Regions. Parts of the greater volcanic Columbia Plateau of Washington. The Clearwater Plateau is the second region of Idaho formed like the Columbia Plateau. Clearwater Plateau. Area drained by the Clearwater River, including the Palouse Hills.

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Idaho Geology

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  1. Idaho Geology The Plateau Regions

  2. Parts of the greater volcanic Columbia Plateau of Washington

  3. The Clearwater Plateau is the second region of Idaho formed like the Columbia Plateau Clearwater Plateau

  4. Area drained by the Clearwater River, including the Palouse Hills

  5. Tall rolling hills and gently sloping prairies A lot of it is ideal for farming for many reasons

  6. Clearwater and tributaries like the Potlatch WA ID Post Falls Moscow Potlatch River Dworshak Clearwater River Clarkston-Lewiston Snake River

  7. The Clearwater joins the Snake at the western edge of Idaho Snake River on border Clearwater joining from the east

  8. Lowest point in Idaho – 738 feet at Lewiston

  9. Originally formed by basalt flows

  10. Granite peaks – Cottonwood Butte and Craig Mt.

  11. Exposed as hills uplifted and basaltic lava eroded away

  12. Much of the region formed by wind and water erosion. Covered by a thick layer of rich topsoil of eroded volcanic material mixed with clay-like glacial sediment blown in from Puget Sound (loess). This makes up the Palouse Hills.

  13. Wheat farms of the Palouse with rich water-holding soil called loess

  14. Clearwater Climate • Fairly mild • Summer temp. averages 89 degrees with cool evenings • Winter temp. averages 26-31 degrees • Precipitation 20+ inches (25-55 in higher elevations) • 4-6 month growing season! (the Banana Belt)

  15. Irrigation not needed because of clayey glacial loess

  16. The grasslands originally covering much of the region have now been generally replaced by domesticated grasses (wheat, oats, barley) and legumes (alfalfa, peas, lentils) • Crop rotation and fallow fields help offset the loss of nutrients and water

  17. Palouse

  18. Camas Prairie

  19. At higher elevations through the plateau and as the plateau in the east rises to meet the Rockies, evergreen forests are found. These are mainly………

  20. Pine forests

  21. 3rd Volcanic region in Idaho Owyhee-Bruneau Plateau

  22. Rolling hills and mountains; dry and sparsely populated

  23. Mountains Poison Creek Hills Jump Creek Hills French John Hills Owyhee Mts.

  24. Rivers Bruneau River Salmon Falls Creek Owyhee River Jarbridge River

  25. Bruneau Gorge

  26. ColumbiaPlateaulava flows included Owyhee-Bruneau

  27. Owyhee-Bruneau becoming a plateau through uplifting forces. This is the main difference between it and the Snake River Plain Lava layers from the many preceding fissure flows

  28. 2000-5000 feet above the SRP; some peaks rising to 8000 feet

  29. Why is it so dry? WA, OR, CA ID Rainshadow Effect

  30. Climate • Extreme and semi-arid • Precipitation 13-20 inches • Summer average temp. = 88 degrees • Winter average = 12 degrees

  31. Southern Idaho Vegetation

  32. O-B Summary • Hostile environment and climate • Ranching is main industry • Low population density (more cows and sheep than people) • Few towns • Murphy is the county seat of Owyhee County (pop. 600)

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