All About Washington
Washington is a constituent state of the United States of America. Lying at the northwest corner of the 48 coterminous states, it is bounded by the Canadian province of British Columbia on the north, Idaho on the east, Oregon on the south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It has an area of 68,139 square miles (176,479 square kilometres). The capital is Olympia. The state's coastal location and excellent harbours give it a leading role in trade with Alaska, Canada, and countries of the Pacific Rim. Washington cities have sister cities in several countries, and their professional and trade associations commonly include Canadian members.
The terrain and climate of Washington divide the state into a rainy western third and a drier eastern two-thirds in the rain shadow of the Cascade Range. Western Washington industries depend on agriculture, forests, and fisheries and imported raw materials, whereas eastern Washington is mainly agricultural, producing wheat, irrigated crops, and livestock. Most of the people live in the metropolitan areas of Seattle–Everett and Tacoma and other cities along Puget Sound.
Washington has seven physiographic regions. In the northwest the Olympic Peninsula borders the Pacific Ocean south of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Dense rain forests extend along the western slopes of the rugged Olympic Mountains, which rise to 7,965 feet (2,428 metres) on Mount Olympus. The Willapa Hills parallel the coast from Grays Harbor to the Columbia River in the southwest. Gentle, forested slopes descend to an indented Pacific coastline and to the Chehalis and Cowlitz valleys on the north and east.
The Puget Sound Lowland stretches southward from Canada between the Olympic Mountains and the Cascade Range to join the Chehalis and Cowlitz valleys, which form an extension to the Columbia River. Deep waters and fine harbours in Puget Sound, together with relatively flat terrain along its shores, favour the densest population and greatest commercial development in the state. The Cascade Range, east of the Puget Sound Lowland, has the state's highest elevations. Its chain of volcanic peaks includes 14,410-foot (4,392-metre) Mount Rainier, the fifth highest peak in the coterminous United States. Mount St. Helens, located in the Cascades near the Oregon border, erupted violently in 1980. The highest peaks have permanent glaciers.
Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries have been major contributors to the state's economy since early settlement by Europeans. The rapid increase in manufacturing and services that began in the 1940s led to concentration of the population in urban areas. Nearly one-fifth of the nonagricultural labour force is employed in manufacturing; another one-fifth works for state or federal government agencies.
Tourism has become a major source of income in Washington. The variety of scenic areas, including three national parks, draws increasing numbers of visitors to the state. Boating, hiking, skiing, sports events, and local festivals are other major tourist attractions. The annual Seattle Seafair features parades, boat races, and water carnivals. Water sports are popular on many lakes and rivers and especially on Puget Sound. Skiing is a favourite winter sport in the Cascades and Okanogan Highlands. Public forestlands, three national parks, and more than 125 state parks attract campers during the summer months.
Harbours on Puget Sound and the outer coast afford year-round access to world ocean routes, and a state ferry system serves the San Juan Islands and Canada's Vancouver Island. Navigation locks allow boats to pass between Puget Sound and Lake Washington, at Seattle. Barges carry grain and raw materials along the Columbia–Snake route. Airlines link the state's cities with one another and with transcontinental and world air routes. The Seattle–Tacoma Airport ranks among the leading U.S. airports in international passenger travel. The state has a well-developed system of highways and interstate freeways. Pontoon bridges span Hood Canal on the Olympic Peninsula and Lake Washington at Seattle. Railways crisscross the state but rank behind trucks in freight transport. Pipelines move oil and natural gas from out-of-state and distribute refined products.
