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Begin your virtual tour of Oregon State by clicking on any of the above entry points,
and follow roads or trails through a network of linked images.
Oregon's western coast rises abruptly from the Pacific Ocean in a wall of forested mountains, drenched in rain, covered with forests, moss and thick undergrowth, and often masked by clouds and mist. Beyond the coastal mountains a fertile lowland is home to the state's largest cities, including Portland, Salem and Eugene. Beyond this the volcanic Cascade Mountains rise to 10,000-foot peaks, covered with wide evergreen forests. East of the Cascades the land is more arid, and sagebrush-covered basins are broken by ranges of mountains with forested areas. The Columbia River, one of the largest in the United States, froms most Oregon's northern boundary.
In the mid 1800s, the beautiful and unsettled lands of Oregon were the destination of thousands of pioneers who left the crowded eastern cities to seek a new life in the west. The months-long journey by wagon along the Oregon Trail was dangerous and many lost their lives to cold, starvation, disease and Indian attacks.
Oregon became the 33rd state of the union on February 14, 1859. The capitol is located at Salem. The population stood at 3,421,399 in the year 2000. Interstate 5 is the main north-south artery through the state, passing Portland and the other major cities close to the coast. Interstate 84 follows the Columbia River inland from Portland and then turn southeast towards Ontario, and into Idaho.
One of the earliest National Parks is found in Oregon. Crater Lake is one of the world's deepest lakes, formed in the collapsed caldera of an ancient volcano. Surrounded by cliffs, forests and alpine meadows, it is one of America's scenic treasures.
| Motto: | She Flies With Her Own Wings |
| State Bird: | Western Meadowlark |
| State Flower: | Oregon grape |
| State Tree: | Douglas fir |
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