Oregon’s climate enjoys the warm Pacific air west of the Cascade Mountains and the lush Willamette Valley. More extreme temperature ranges are experienced in Oregon’s high desert. Populations of Nez Perce, Chinook, Molalla, and others settled along the Columbia River Gorge, Klamath Basin, and points east. Many of the first European explorers to arrive sought the elusive Northwest Passage. The Corps of Discovery Expedition followed the Colombia River Gorge, reaching the Pacific Ocean in November 1805. They would winter at Ft. Clatsop. Soon, pioneers would follow along what would become the Oregon Trail.
The gorge was created from volcanic lava flows and glacial floods. Windsurfers flock to the Columbia due to the powerful, steady winds of the Cascade Mountains. Kayaking, biking, hiking, skiing, and many other outdoor adventures can be found up and down the Gorge, but its icy crown is Mt. Hood. The Stratovolcano’s last eruption occurred in 1865 and was named after Lord Samuel Hood. South along the Cascade Range, a sleeping volcano forms the mysterious Crater Lake. A well-planned hike along the trails to the remote brilliant, blue waters of the deepest lake in the U.S. is worth the effort. The pristine volcano is a wonder to see. Eastern Oregon takes on the color of a sunset in the undulating Painted Hills near Mitchell.
Resource: https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-oregon-day
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