The Pacific Coast,

economically the most important part of the American West, comprises the states of California (San Francisco, Los Angeles (L.A.), Oregon (Portland), Washington (Seattle).

California - the richest state of the US (american dream – to live in California) and one of the ten largest economies in the world.

Production of fruits and vegetables: carrots, lettuce, onions, broccoli, tomatoes, strawberries, and almonds; crops, grapes, cotton, flowers, and oranges; dairy products & domestic wine (the national leader in this sector). It’s a result of good soil, a long growing season, and the use of modern agricultural methods. Irrigation is critical, esp. In the San Joaquin Valley and Imperial Valley. The gathering and packing of crops is done largely by seasonal migrant labor (Mexicans). Fishing is important industry.

Industrial production: petroleum, natural gas, lumber, cement, and sand and gravel.

Since World War II - manufacturing of electronic equipment, computers, machinery, transportation equipment, and metal products.

Defense industries, a base of the economy esp. in S California, have declined following the end of the cold war, a serious blow to the state. But many high-tech companies remain in S California (the largest manufacturing belt in the US). Farther north, “Silicon Valley,” between Palo Alto and San Jose - the nation's leading producer of semiconductors, a focus of software development.

C. - major U.S. center for motion-picture, television film, and related entertainment industries, esp. in Hollywood and Burbank. In 2005 the world-known movie superstar Arnold Shvarzennegger was elected the governor of C.

Tourism: Disneyland, Sea World, and other theme parks (millions of visitors each year), San Francisco (hilly city) with its numerous attractions and Los Angeles (cinematography, Oscar ceremony) – entertainment areas.

Natural beauty of C.: many national parks and forests - such attractions as Yosemite Falls and giant sequoia trees - and along miles of Pacific beaches.

The state's great problem is its appetite for water. Fertile Owens valley is now arid, in the Imperial Valley irrigation is controlled by the All-American Canal, which draws from the Colorado River. In the Central Valley the water problem is one of poor distribution. In the 1970s and 80s many California cities began buying water from areas with a surplus water (payed be fed. Government), but political problems with water sharing continue. C.’s failure to develop a long-term plan to end surplus withdrawals from the Colorado led the fed.l government to stop the release of surplus water to the state in 2003.

Oregon is one of the nation's leading producers of snap beans, peppermint, sweet cherries (orchards are particularly numerous in the N Willamette Valley), broccoli, and strawberries. O. produces greenhouse products, wheat, cattle (huge herds graze on the plateaus), and dairy items. Hay, wheat, pears, and onions are important, and O. has developed a growing wine industry since 1980.

The state's 30.7 million acres (12.4 million hectares) of rich forestland (almost half the state) comprise the country's greatest reserves of standing timber; huge areas have been set aside (conservation). Wood processing was long the state's major industry; Douglas fir predominates in the Cascades and western pine in the eastern regions. Since 1991 many areas have been closed to logging in order to protect endangered wildlife. Nevertheless, O. has retained its title as the nation's foremost lumber state, producing more than 5 billion board feet a year.

Food, paper and paper items, machinery, and fabricated metals. Printing and publishing. In recent decades O. (also called “Silicon Forest”) has become home to many computer and electronic companies; growth in this sector has offset job losses in the timber industry.

Cheap electric power is supplied by numerous dams (on the Columbia River—Bonneville Dam, The Dalles Dam, and McNary Dam). The John Day Dam is one of the largest hydroelectric generators in the world. The dams also aid in flood control and navigation. The Bonneville Dam, in the steep gorge where the Columbia River pierces the Cascades, enables large vessels to travel far inland, and although river traffic is less vital than formerly, the Columbia River cities are still centers for a vast hinterland to the east. Portland is a port.

O.’s river resources: salmon-fishing industry, centered around Astoria, is one of the world's largest; other catches are tuna and crabs. Mining is still underdeveloped, but O. leads the nation in the production of nickel.

Tourism: beautiful ocean beaches, lakes, and mountains. Major attractions: the Oregon Caves National Monument, Fort Clatsop National Memorial, and McLoughlin House National Historic Site; Crater Lake National Park. There r 13 national forests, one national grassland, and more than 220 state parks.

Washington

W's water resources provide both irrigation and enormous hydroelectric power (the impact of the Columbia River on the life and economy). In early days the river was a means of transport and a salmon-fishing field for many Native American tribes. The Columbia R. is one of the greatest sources of hydroelectric power in the world. Besides: Grand Coulee Dam, Bonneville Dam, Chief Joseph and Rocky Reach dams, Priest Rapids Dam, and Wanapum Dam, the Dalles Dam, John Day Dam, and McNary Dam, some shared with Oregon.

The dams provide not only power, flood control and navigation, but extensive irrigation to the Columbia Plateau. The Snake River in the east and the Yakima River in S central Washington also have important irrigation projects. Dams on the Skagit River (including Ross and Diablo, two of the world's highest) supply power to Seattle and the surrounding area.

Puget Sound - the heart of W.’s industrial and commercial development. It is navigable and has many beautiful bays, on which are situated such commercial and industrial cities as Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett.

Seattle, an exporter and importer in trade with Asia and a gateway to Alaska (because of the protected Inland Passage), is a major U.S. city and a center for the manufacture of jet aircraft (as well as missiles and spacecraft) by the Boeing Corp. (headquarters). In recent years - computer software (Microsoft Corp. is near Seattle), electronics, and biotechnology.

Food processing industry, irrigated farming and dairying fishing. Salmon is the biggest catch, but halibut, bottomfish, oysters, and crabs are also significant.

There is dry farming, irrigation has converted many of the river valleys east of the Cascades (especially the Yakima and Wenatchee) into garden areas. This region contains most of Washington's vineyards; from the 1980s - wine industry. Production of apples, sweet cherries, and pears, corn, onions, potatoes, apricots, grapes (including those made into wine), and other fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Cattle, dairy goods, sheep, and poultry.

Spokane is the commercial and transportation hub of the entire “Inland Empire” region between the Cascades and the Rockies, which extends into British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon.

More than half of the state's area is forested. The lumber and wood-products industry. Many of Washington's cities (Tacoma, Bellingham, Everett, and Anacortes) began as sawmill centers - Seattle itself was home to the original “Skid Road” - and lumber, pulp, paper, and related items are still among their major products.

Chemicals and primary metals, esp. aluminum. Abundant water power and the rich aluminum and magnesium ores found in the Okanogan Highlands (the nation's leading aluminum producer). Chief minerals: sand, gravel, cement, stone, and diatomite; metals: Gold, lead, and zinc. Also Tourism.

21. Speak on one of the American Presidents
FRANCLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT (1882-1945)
The 32nd US president from the Democratic Party (1933-45). He is the
only president who was elected four times. From 1921 he suffered from
polio (гьгвгтгягвгугягмгтгягш) and for the rest of his life he could hardly walk
without help. But this didn't prevent him from his political career.
During the campaign in 1932 he defeated Herbert Hoover, introducing
the New Deal programme which helped the US recover from the Great
Depression. FDR was a cheerful man who gave the Americans confidence
with his fireside chats (гигмгзгмглгД гэ гсгхгугягжгх) on the radio. In 1933 his
administration set up diplomatic relationships with the USSR. He
participated in Yalta Conference where the allies met. In 1942 the
secret Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb was begun under
his supervision. He also paid much attention to the creation of the
UN.

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