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  • 7/15/2025
Have you ever wondered why a significant majority of Americans reside east of a particular line, while only a smaller fraction occupies the western part of the United States? 🇺🇸 Uncover the geographic factors that contribute to this fascinating phenomenon. Discover how the majority of western residents are concentrated in California, Oregon, and Washington within this line, accounting for a significant portion of the region's population. Furthermore, explore the astonishing statistic that only 9% of Americans live in half of the mainland US, equivalent to the population of New York City alone. 😱 Learn about the primary reason behind this geographical distribution: the imposing Rocky Mountains, which serve as a natural barrier to Pacific Ocean rains, creating a phenomenon known as the "rain shadow." Delve into how these mountains hinder cloud movement, impacting precipitation patterns across the country. Explore the intricate interplay between precipitation patterns and wind currents, particularly the influence of Gulf of Mexico winds along the 100th meridian. Understand how these factors contribute to the creation of dry, agriculturally unsuitable regions and their subsequent impact on population density.
The journey through America's diverse geography and uncover
the complex dynamics that shape where Americans choose to cll home

Category

📚
Learning
Transcript
00:00Why do 80% of all Americans live east of this line, while only 20% occupy the western part of the United States?
00:07Even more, the majority in the West live in California, Oregon, and Washington within this line,
00:13accounting for 11% of all those living in the West.
00:17Thus, only 9% of Americans live in half of the mainland of the U.S.,
00:21which is equivalent to the population of New York City alone.
00:23Why is that?
00:24The main reason for this is geography, especially the rocky mountains that stretch across the entire country
00:30and act as a natural barrier for the rains coming from the Pacific Ocean.
00:34They are so high that they prevent the clouds from passing into the center of the country,
00:39and this effect is called rain shadow.
00:41At the same time, precipitation from the east can easily penetrate into the depths of the country,
00:46but due to winds from the Gulf of Mexico, cannot cross this line as it changes its direction.
00:51Because of the lack of precipitation, it creates an area of dry land that is not suitable for agricultural production,
00:57and this is reflected in the population density.

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