CLIMATIC REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES 305 



one hand and the cool blue sweep of the Kuro-Siwo, or Japan 

 Current, on the other. Southern California has the sun 

 electricity of the tropics, with the cool nights of the green rain 

 belt, the fire of the South with the stamina of the North. The 

 blue sea, bright sunshine and white mountains that made the 

 glory that was Greece and the grandeur that was Rome, are 

 also hers. She will some day be the Greece of the New World." 



328. Fifth Region. The Northwest Coast, comprising 

 Washington, Oregon, some of Idaho and northern California, 

 has a summer climate as delightful as the winter climate of 

 southern California. The temperature is relatively even and 

 moderate, while during the winter season the humidity and 

 rainfall are high and the percentage of sunshine correspond- 

 ingly low. 



329. Sixth Region. This is the mountain climate of the 

 United States, the climate of the "backbone" of the continent. 

 In many respects this is a region of unsurpassed climate for 

 those who wish life, vigor, and energy. It is characterized by 

 moderate severity in winter and a pleasant warmth in summer. 

 Its humidity ranges from 50 to 60 per cent, the year around. 

 It has a high percentage of sunshine both summer and winter, 

 and plenty of pure, relatively dry, crisp air, free from dust 

 and fogs. 



330. Seventh Region. The Dakotas, Minnesota, and north- 

 ern Wisconsin comprise most of this region. Lying as it 

 does in the path of storms, this is a region of sudden and 

 severe weather changes. Its winters are severe; its summers 

 are fairly moderate but with high temperatures frequently 

 during the middle of the day. The relative humidity of the 

 eastern portion of this region is rather high the year around. 



331. Eighth Region. The eighth region comprises Nebraska, 

 Kansas, Oklahoma, and northern Texas. It is characterized 

 by high winds, low amount of rainfall, fluctuating tempera- 

 ture, rather low humidity, and high percentage of sunshine. 

 It has the most characteristically continental climate of any 



region of the United States. 

 20 



