Bend and the surrounding area is in the Oregon High Desert region. Look at Oregon with Google Maps in the satellite mode and notice the Cascade Range splits the state down the middle. The area west of the Cascade Range is green and the area to the east is mostly brown. Weather fronts tend to move east from the Pacific Ocean dropping the majority of rainfall on the western side of the Cascade Range. The eastern side receives about 15 inches of rain annually, which is 5 inches more than the definition of a desert at 10 inches or less of annual rain, but the area is still classified as the Oregon High Desert. Even with the small annual rainfall there are rivers and lakes that provide water for the area plus the melting snow that flowing down the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range. You do not feel like you are in a desert and trees, plants, and animal life abound. Most of the trees are in the conifer family that can survive in arid climates.
Motorist driving on Highway 97 and 20 have beautiful views of snow capped mountains on the western side of the road. There are three peaks known as the Three Sisters, with a peak referred to as Broken Top just south and further south is Mt Bachelor. South Sister is the highest of these at 10,358 feet. North Sister is 10,085 feet and Middle Sister is 10047. Broken Top is next at 9175 feet and Mt Bachelor comes in last at 9068 feet.
Broken Top, South Sister, Middle Sister, and North Sister
Three Sisters without Broken Top
Mt Bachelor
Three Sisters and Broken Top from Mt Bachelor
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