Bringing the Universe to America's Classrooms
Mountains and Rain Shadows

Which Side of the Mountain?

This image was taken from a satellite that is looking down on the Cascade Mountain Range and Mount Hood from above. 

This picture is in natural color, which means that it shows the colors of the region similar to how they appear in the real world. The colors can provide clues as to what the climate might be like (on either side of the mountain range).
A satellite image shows the location of Mount Hood within the snow-capped Cascade mountains.

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The mountain range runs vertically through Oregon, dividing the state into distinct west and east sections. To the west of the mountains, the land is green and vegetated and leads to the Pacific Ocean. To the east of the mountains, the land is brown and less-vegetated.

Side 1
A photograph shows Mount Hood and the Cascade mountains as seen from Willamette National Forest, Oregon. In the foreground, a vast forest of green trees lead to tree-covered mountains and snow-capped Mount Hood.

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Side 2
A photograph shows Mount Hood and the Cascade mountains as seen from Maryhill, Washington. In the foreground, a brown, desertlike landscape stretches toward snow-capped Mount Hood in the distance.

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