Facts About Washington State

Washington lies in the North Pacific Region of the United States. It is bordered on the east by Idaho, with the Snake River forming part of the boundary. To the south is Oregon, with most of that boundary formed by the Columbia River. On the west the Pacific Ocean stretches along the coast for 157 miles (253 kilometers). Cape Alava is the westernmost mainland point of the coterminous United States (not including Alaska). The boundary in the northwestern corner of Washington runs through three straits Juan de Fuca, Haro, and Georgia. The entire northern boundary of the state is shared with the Canadian province of British Columbia.

The dominant physical feature of the Evergreen State is the Cascade Range a towering chain of mountains that stretches from north to south and divides the state into two sections, with high rainfall in the west and a more arid climate in the east. Eastern Washington covers about two thirds of the state and has three distinct natural regions. Western Washington has four natural regions, including the Cascades.
The towering mass of the Cascade Range divides the state into two general climate areas. Most of western Washington has a marine climate, with cool summers and mild winters. Warm, moist air from the Pacific helps to keep the temperature fairly even and provides a heavy rainfall. In eastern Washington the Cascades act as a barrier against the Pacific winds. As a result this section has a continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters. Eastern Washington is also much drier, with only about 10 inches (25 centimeters) of precipitation a year in the south-central part of the state.

The state of Washington can be divided into 3 geographic regions: the Cascade Mountains running down the center of the state, Puget Sound Basin and the Olympic Peninsula on the west, and the Columbia Plateau in the interior.

Puget Sound Basin is the economic and demographic nucleus of Washington. It contains the Seattle Metropolitan Area and further south, the state capital of Olympia. North of Puget Sound lie the Emerald Coast and the San Juan Islands. The San Juans, which are accessible by ferry, are known for their unspoilt beauty and their wildlife, particularly orcas. On the west lies the Olympic Peninsula, whose rain forests see as much as 150 inches of annual precipitation. Olympic National Park is remote and difficult to access, but it is heaven for backcountry enthusiasts willing to make the effort. The peninsula is sparsely populated save for coastal cities such as Port Townsend.

The Cascade Mountains are a young range whose volcanoes are still active. Mount St. Helens, in the south of the state, lost 1,300 feet in height when it blew its top on May 18, 1980. Mount Rainier, the tallest peak in the Cascades, is officially dormant but may explode one day in a similar manner; nevertheless most scientists believe that the two million annual visitors to Mount Rainier National Park with be safe for at least another 5 centuries.

The Columbia Plateau is a major agricultural region. It recieves less rainfall than the rest of the state, but there is adequate water from the rivers which run through it to irrigate the crops. The dry climate also proves attractive to residents from western Washington looking for a respite during the long rainy season.

• Snoqualmie Falls: Just 15 miles east of Bellevue, across the floating bridges from Seattle, the 268 foot torrent of Snoqualmie Falls offers a spectacular reward for a very short trip. The roaring veil of water, almost 100 feet higher than Niagara, plunges into a gorge of glistening rock and moss. A grand lodge sits perched on a precipice above the falls.
• Space Needle: Edward E. Carlson penciled his vision of a dominant central structure for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair on a placemat in a coffeehouse. That futuristic image would become the internationally known symbol of Seattle. The observation deck and revolving restaurant allow you to gaze out on the dramatic landscape from a perch above 500 feet.
• Pike Place Market: It is the oldest continually operating farmers market in the country. But "The Market," as natives call it, is no staid historic site. It's open year-round, perched on a hillside overlooking Elliott Bay. Residents and visitors mingle amid a menagerie of flying fish, farmers, artists and street performers. The spectacular produce and flower displays are almost as colorful as the people.
• Mt. Rainier: Whether hiking on its flanks, climbing its summit, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing on its slopes, camping along its glacier-fed rivers, photographing wildflower displays in subalpine meadows, or just admiring the view, nearly two million people come to enjoy the grandeur and beauty of Mount Rainier each year.

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