West Region: Natural Resources

1. Oil is found underground and under the sea in Alaska. It is pumped out, then used for energy and turned into products such as gasoline. 2. Timber is another resource found in the West. 3. Gold, silver, and copper have all been mined out of the Rocky Mountains. 4. Hydropower (water power) can be used to create electricity for homes and businesses. 5. The largest location of hydropower creation in the U.S. is in the Columbia River basin. It is the source of almost half of the country's hydroelectricity.