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<br />Over half the population of the 11 western states has some depend- <br />W <br />_ ency on Colorado River water amI, in spite of its limited supply, a <br />0) <br />---J greater percentage of water is exported from its system than from <br /> <br />any other major river system in the United States. <br /> <br />TopOQraphy and Climate <br /> <br />The southwestern portion of the Lower Region is, for the most part, <br /> <br />a hot and arid area of lower elevations containing a series of <br />northwest-trending mountain ranges, intervening basins, and deserts. <br /> <br />The Colorado Plateau Province occupies the northeastern portions of <br />the Lower Region and is characterized by cliffs and slopes formed as <br /> <br />a result of variations in erosion. In areas adjacent to the <br /> <br />Colorado River, canyonlands are extensive while low mesa-like <br /> <br />feat ures predomi nate in the southern regi on. <br /> <br />The climate in the Lower Region varies widely as a result of large <br /> <br />differences in elevation, latitude, and distribution of mountain <br /> <br />ranges. Temperature variations in the Lower Region are extreme. <br />In mountainous areas winter temperatures drop below 0 "F while <br />summer temperatures exceeding 110 OF are common in desert areas. <br /> <br />Annual precipitation may be as low as 2.5 inches in the desert with <br />about half the Lower Region receiving an average of less than <br />10 inches, A few of the higher mountain peaks receive more than <br />30 inches of precipitation a year. <br /> <br />6 <br />