Hard The Left Coast Quiz / Test | USA

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. How many US states border the Pacific Ocean?

Answer: 5

California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii all border the Pacific. Alaska and Hawaii became states in 1959, but the other three were all admitted in the 19th century, before several of the states in the interior of the country.

2. What river forms most of the border between Oregon and Washington?

Answer: Columbia River

The Columbia River starts in Canada, flows through Washington and forms most of the border between Oregon and Washington. Singer Woody Guthrie helped make it famous with songs such as "Roll On Columbia" and "Grand Coulee Dam".

3. The land for what California national park was set aside by Congress and signed into law by Abraham Lincoln?

Answer: Yosemite

Although Yellowstone was the first to be officially declared a national park in the US, the land for Yosemite was set aside and protected first. Yosemite is about a four-hour drive east of San Francisco and features spectacular views, both as you are driving in and looking up from Yosemite Valley.

4. What mountain range, which shares its name with a dish-washing detergent, stretches from Canada through Washington and Oregon, and into California?

Answer: Cascades

Mount Rainier is the highest peak in the Cascades and the second highest in the continental US. However, in 1980 Mount St. Helens gained great fame when it erupted, becoming the first active volcano in the contiguous United States in over 50 years.

5. What is the highest mountain peak in the contiguous United States?

Answer: Mount Whitney

Mount Whitney, in the Sierra Nevadas, is less than 100 feet taller than Mount Elbert, the highest peak in Colorado. It is also less than 100 miles from Death Valley National Park, which contains one of the lowest points of land on Earth.

6. In which US Census did California first have the largest national population?

Answer: 1970

In the 1970 census, California surpassed New York as the largest state by population. New York had been the most populated state since the 1810 census (when it passed Pennsylvania). As recently as 1940, California had only ranked #5 in population in the US!

7. Oregon is larger in area than Washington.

Answer: True

Oregon ranks 9th in area while Washington is 18th. Washington is one of the smallest states west of the Mississippi River and by far the smallest west of the Rocky Mountains (excluding Hawaii).

8. Which Canadian province(s) does Washington border?

Answer: British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost Canadian province. It borders Washington, Idaho, and part of Montana. Vancouver, British Columbia's largest city and host of the 2010 Winter Olympics, is less than 35 miles from the northwestern corner of Washington.

9. Approximately how many miles is it from San Diego, California to Blaine, Washington?

Answer: 1400

Interstate 5, which starts at the US-Mexico border in San Diego, runs just under 1400 miles to the Canadian border at Blaine, Washington. Approximately 800 miles are in California. Just over 300 miles are in Oregon, and the rest are in Washington.

10. Which of the following mountains, the highest in their state, are NOT near the west coast of the United States?

Answer: Mount Washington

Mount Rainier is the highest peak in Washington, while Mount Hood is the highest peak in Oregon. Mount Whitney is the highest peak in California. Mount Washington, the highest mountain in New Hampshire, is also the highest peak in New England. It is named for President Washington, not for the state of Washington.

Source: Author andymuenz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
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The Left Coast Trivia Quiz

This quiz is about the "left" coast of the United States.

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