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Image: See Oregon's 'Rain Shadow'

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Oregon from space
The Landsat 5 satellite captured this view of Oregon on October 27, 2011, which shows temperate rainforests, Mount Hood and the high desert. (Image credit: NASA Earth Observatory)

Within a short distance in Oregon, you can visit the high desert, a mountaintop glacier, a temperate rainforest and a beach. The wide variety of ecosystems in the area is largely due to the effect of the Cascade Mountains on air blown eastward off the Pacific Ocean.

Air cools as it rises up the mountains, reducing air pressure and causing water to condense and fall out as rain. That's why the westward side of the Cascades is often covered in clouds and receives a lot of rain, which allows for vast temperate forests to thrive. By the time the air reaches the other side of the mountains, though, it descends and warms. This effectively shuts off the rain because the air can better hold the remaining moisture.

Oregon's forests are home to a wide variety of animals, likely including the Sierra Nevada red fox, a subspecies that's one of the rarest mammals in North America. Torrential rains have also helped carve a large number of caves, which remain mostly unexplored. In one of these caves, however, intrepid explorers discovered a whole new family of spiders hanging from the ceiling.

 Reach Douglas Main at dmain@techmedianetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @Douglas_Main. Follow OurAmazingPlanet on Twitter @OAPlanet. We're also on Facebook and Google+.

Live Science Staff
Live Science Staff
For the science geek in everyone, Live Science offers a fascinating window into the natural and technological world, delivering comprehensive and compelling news and analysis on everything from dinosaur discoveries, archaeological finds and amazing animals to health, innovation and wearable technology. We aim to empower and inspire our readers with the tools needed to understand the world and appreciate its everyday awe.