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Oregon

As humid Pacific air travels eastward across Oregon, it is forced upwards by the Cascade Mountains, and releases its watery payload as the heavy precipitation for which Oregon is famous. The rains, which are heaviest during the winter months, keep the western third of the state lush and sparkling: 1,932 foot deep Crater Lake, which sits in a caldera left by a giant volcanic explosion some 7,700 years ago, is fed by them, as are hundreds of rivers and streams which flow down the steep sides of the Cascades toward the ocean. Of these rivers, the McKenzie River, Rogue River, and Clackamas River are among the most popular for rafting, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing.

At the coast, Oregon's landscape varies from rugged, rocky shorelines dotted with historic lighthouses on high bluffs, to the sandy expanses of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, to forests which creep right up to the waterfront. Opportunities for wildlife viewing are plentiful, from shore birds in the Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge to sea lions at Cape Arago State Park to migrating gray whales off of Newport. There are more than 70 parks, viewpoints, and recreation areas that have been set aside by the state government.

The two-thirds of the state which lie on the eastern side of the Cascades receive far less moisture than the coast. Much of the land is occupied by agriculture and cattle ranches, and feels like it has more in common with the Old West than western Oregon. The history of the Oregon Trail infuses this region, and is documented in numerous museums.

Oregon's outdoor activities are complemented by the cultural richness of the Portland Metropolitan Area, a colorful, cosmopolitan, high-tech region which hosts half the state's population. In the south, the world famous 9-month Oregon Shakespeare Festival makes the small town of Ashland another must-see cultural resource.

One way to explore Oregon and other parts of the Pacific Northwest is to take a train ride aboard the Amtrak Cascades. These sleek, European-style trains travel between Eugene, Oregon and Vancouver, BC.

Regions of Oregon:

Central Oregon
Columbia Gorge and Mt Hood
Eastern Oregon
Oregon Coast
Portland Metropolitan Area
Southern Oregon
Willamette Valley

Cities in Oregon:

Albany
Aloha
Ashland
Astoria
Baker City
Bandon
Beaver
Beaverton
Bend
Brookings
Camp Sherman
Canby
Cannon Beach
Carlton
Central Point
Clackamas
Coos Bay
Corvallis
Cottage Grove
Crescent
Crescent Lake
Dallas
Dayton
Depoe Bay
Dundee
Eugene
Florence
Forest Grove
Garibaldi
Gaston
Gold Beach
Government Camp
Grants Pass
Gresham
Hillsboro
Hood River
Jacksonville
Joseph
Klamath Falls
La Grande
Lake Oswego
Lincoln City
Madras
Maupin
McMinnville
Medford
Merlin
Newberg
Newport
North Bend
Oakridge
Oregon City
Pacific City
Pendleton
Port Orford
Portland
Prineville
Redmond
Reedsport
Rockaway Beach
Roseburg
Salem
Seaside
Silverton
Sunriver
The Dalles
Tillamook
Troutdale
Tualatin
Union
Vida
Waldport
Welches
West Linn
Yachats