Summary

The Pacific Northwest, comprised of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, contain a lot of contrasts. There's sagebrush desert, rugged coastline and sand dunes, wheatlands, mountain ranges, and rainforests. There are conservative regions, liberal pockets, a lot of farmland, and major big cities. To get a true grasp of what makes the Northwest the sort of place that it is, it's worthwhile reviewing the rigorous research compiled by Jackson and Kimerling. There's a comprehensive overview of the geographical history, including early exploration, principal Indian groups and reservations, and immigration routes. There are chapters on population, transportation, and who owns which lands, chapters on geology, climate, soil, and water. The vegetation is explored, from the Ponderosa Pine to the Quaking Aspen, and energy resources are given the same thorough treatment.

The rest of the atlas is devoted to the industries of the Pacific Northwest, and it's indispensable to anyone pursuing business there. The chapter on agriculture covers everything from number of farms and value per acre to the wheat, barley, corn, hay, apples, grapes, pigs and sheep they grow. Commercial timberland, a divisive subject in the Northwest, is explained, and there are similarly expansive chapters on ocean resources, minerals and mining, manufacturing, and the big economy booster, tourism. For anyone wanting to move to the area, do business there, or travel with a well-informed understanding of the region, this atlas is full of value.