high desert oregon oregon high desert region state oregon located east south central eastern parts state divided southern region northern region desert covers oregon counties averages feet sea level southwest region southeast lower watershed northern region somewhat rainfall allows largest industry private land cultivation hay public land region owned primarily manages square miles km2 including rivers designated wild scenic high desert somewhat dry arid relative western oregon region averages inches annual rainfall gets inches rain year contrary high desert dry truly qualify desert region classified feet sea level summit highest point high desert broad fault block mountain characteristic basin range plate high desert million years ago early lava flows volcanic covered half surface area oregon earth crust began stretching giving way volcanic activity million million years ago ice ages time formed large lakes high desert climate high desert provides habitat mammals deer black tailed birds common region include sage california prairie falcon western common tree region big common region widespread plants geography high desert oregon located central southeastern state covers approximately square miles km2 extending approximately miles central oregon east idaho border miles central oregon nevada border south region located lake counties high desert gets generally high elevation averaging feet region bordered eastern foothills cascade range west blue mountains geographical boundary north marking northern end high desert semi arid plateau southern high desert north_america basin range province extends south nevada arizona mexico contains large lakes tall cliffs prominence feet highest point region summit feet sea level east high desert country extends idaho number rivers flow high desert region include tributary john day rivers watershed high desert encompasses portion located oregon smaller rivers high desert flow closed basins und river flow high desert salt lakes land use largest landowner eastern oregon government million acres km2 bureau burns districts state high desert country addition congress designated specific sections und rivers agriculture largest industry region livestock utilize large tracts private government land grazing raise cattle sheep parts region low rainfall crops require irrigation agricultural crops include hay crops wheat potatoes sugar mint geology million years ago deep beneath eastern oregon rose earth surface causing period significant volcanic activity series lava floods erupted near oregon idaho washington border resulting lava flows traveled miles source individual flows covered square miles km2 depth feet eventually lava flows covered half state oregon creating formation known foundation beneath high desert original subsided earth crust began stretch crack million years ago created hundreds new added additional layers lava left hundreds lava tubes new flows southeastern state smaller period exist eastern oregon subsequent produced large fault block mountains region type mountains high elevation valleys created faults produced basin range landscape makes oregon high desert country million years series ice ages altered landscape ice sheet melted runoff increased rainfall filled region closed basins forming large lakes basins filled smaller basins lakes covered square miles km2 climate drier large lakes away lake remnants ancient lakes climate annual precipitation oregon high desert region relatively low averaging inches year areas bend region largest city receives inches precipitation year burns receives inches precipitation annually rome central official weather station southern receive inches average year mountainous areas receive significantly precipitation form snow example high elevation city average annual snowfall nearly inches majority high desert areas receive precipitation winter months decreasing steadily late summer fall areas eastern southern parts region receive peak precipitation late spring early summer example time year march june months oregon high desert july september isolated thunderstorms period history native peoples white settlement indigenous people high desert region people native americans semi nomadic hunter relied nuts roots seeds eggs animals deer rabbits bear following food high low elevations depending time year traps fishing nets willow plant indian fibers tight carry water archaeological evidence near shown people area years ago 18th century early 19th century numerous conflicts tribes lived northwest tribes high desert landscape territory incident northern migrated north attacked time numbered approximately snake war war natives white settlers region 1860s killed roughly thirds population whites won war set aside tribes white settlers traveled oregon began live high desert region 1850s 1860s begun farming logging lands western oregon thousands reached area west crossing cascade range land claims eastern oregon high desert area settled whites later western oregon white failure find pass east claimed land pioneers members american government negotiated treaties natives high desert oregon forcing native lands reservations american soldiers established military camp near present day sent idaho build military camp high desert built east warner lakes doubted cross series wetlands disapproved soldiers decision built road lakes moved camp western major cities high desert established earliest post office originally opened named metal merchant area post office established time larger visible post office burns post office opened city established named scottish poet bend derived phrase farewell bend location pioneers traveling area saw bend post office established people northern tribes participated war war white settlers region destruction root major source food natives white settlers suffered violence conflict white settlers won war natives allotted reservations sent later years dispersed reservations western united_states white settlers created acre north burns reservation established home descendants band members descendants tribe living outside reservation place names 19th century oregon high desert area called great sandy desert little sand region years region known oregon quarter great wide open oregon today local residents old names occasionally magazine map united states physical landscape pioneer identify southeastern quarter oregon region commonly known oregon high desert high desert official plain recognized variant names great sandy desert rolling sage plains flora fauna oregon wilderness miles east bend vegetation typical high desert region native plants adapted survive inches rain year area dominated big hardy grasses like idaho spring native sunshine dwarf purple indian high desert common region include coral contains oldest known tree oregon western estimated years old hundreds animal species found oregon high desert environment including bird species mammals high desert region deer american common sheep gray red north american north american found parts high desert smaller mammals native area include long tailed rabbits rabbits golden ground ground yellow pine rats northern pocket mice species include pocket mouse northern mouse western harvest mouse deer mouse meadow mouse numerous bat species live oregon high desert country common high desert birds include sage sage near high desert lakes areas american yellow orange crowned house spotted western mountain black headed green tailed yellow mountain common northern white headed common parts region birds prey include hawks prairie golden eagles bald eagles
High Desert (Oregon)