Higher Education  

Oregon has thirty-four colleges and universities, as well as eighteen two-year and community colleges. The state's largest institution is the University of Oregon at Eugene. Other state institutions include Oregon State University, Portland State University, Eastern Oregon State University, and Western Oregon State University. Private institutions include the University of Portland, Linfield College in McMinnville, Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Pacific University in Forest Grove, and Reed College in Portland.

Geography

With an area of 251,419 square kilometers, Oregon is the tenth largest state in the US The Cascade Mountains divide the state into two distinct regions. East of the Cascades, the land is drier and vegetation sparser than the lush area west of the Cascades that extends to the Pacific Ocean. The Coast Range, the Klamath Mountains, the Willamette River Valley, and the Pacific coast are all located in the area west of the Cascades. This western area includes mountains, streams, valleys, rich mineral deposits, and thick forests. Stretching eastward from the Cascades to the mountains of northeastern Oregon is the Columbia Plateau, an often rugged and rocky area deeply cut by river canyons. In southeastern Oregon, the Basin and Range Region is a semi-arid land. Oregon's major rivers are the Snake in the east and the Columbia in the north. Important cities include Portland, Eugene, Salem (capital), Gresham, and Beaverton. The state's population is around 3.2 million.

Climate

The Cascade Mountains affect Oregon's climate. In the area west of the Cascades, the weather is mild and humid, with moderate temperatures and abundant rainfall. Temperatures along the coast average 7° C in January and 15.5° C in July. Compared to the western area, eastern Oregon is colder in winter, warmer in summer, and generally drier. In the eastern area, temperatures average -3° C in January and 22° C in July. The average annual precipitation is 203 cm on the coast and 15-30 cm in eastern Oregon.

Cultural Profile

Museums in Portland include the Portland Art Museum; the Portland Center for the Visual Arts; the Oregon Historical Center; Children's Museum; the Portland Museum of Science and Industry; the Advertising Museum; the Oregon Maritime Center and Museum; and the Portland Police Historical Museum. Other museums in Oregon include the Museum of Art at the University of Oregon in Eugene; the Desert Museum near Bend; the Flavell Museum in Klamath Falls; the Kam Wah Chung Museum in John Day; and the Jacksonville Museum in Jacksonville.

Portland is the home of many performing arts organizations, including the Oregon Symphony, the Portland Opera Association, the Portland Youth Philharmonic, the Portland Chamber Orchestra, Ballet Oregon, the Pacific Ballet Theatre, and Oregon Dance Consort. Other organizations in the state include the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland and the Eugene Ballet, which have both received national recognition.

Recreation

Oregon has 340 state parks and recreation areas, 14 national forests, and a Wild and Scenic River System. In addition, Oregon has a national park  Crater Lake National Park. Popular outdoor activities include fishing, swimming, boating, white-water rafting, golf, rockhounding, skiing, skating, and snowmobiling. Some other interesting attractions are Bonneville Dam, Hells Canyon, Lava Lands, Mount Hood, and the Pittock Mansion in Portland.

Interesting Facts

In 1902, the largest meteorite in the US was discovered in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Oregon is America's leading producer of timber, filberts, grass seed, and pumice. Famous Oregonians include Beverly Cleary (writer), Matt Groening (cartoonist), Mark Hatfield (politician), Howard Hesseman (actor), Phyllis McGinley (essayist and poet), Chad Mitchell (singer), Linus Carl Pauling (chemist), and Sally Struthers (actress).