Page 177 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Pacific Northwest

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WASHINGTON

Named for the first president of the US, Washington was the
42nd state to enter the Union, in 1889. Washington is located in
the far northwestern corner of the country, sharing a border with
Canada. Within its 68,139 sq miles (176,466 sq km) of land lies an
extraordinary geographical diversity; each of the state’s three distinct
regions has its own geology, personality, and climate.

The coastal region – bordered by the The Cascade mountain range, which
Pacific Ocean to the west, the Strait of runs between western and eastern
Juan de Fuca to the north, Oregon to the Washington, provides wonderful
south, and Puget Sound to the east – is opportunities for skiing, hiking, and
dominated by the beautiful Olympic numerous other outdoor activities.
National Park and other great tracts of Mount Rainier, the highest peak in
forest. Highlights include the charming the range, is Washington’s most-
Victorian seaport of Port Townsend, the visited attraction.
spectacular views from the top of The dry, sunny eastern region,
Hurricane Ridge, the expansive Crescent stretching from the Cascades to the
Lake, the towering moss-draped trees of Idaho border, contrasts with the dense,
the Hoh Rainforest, and miles of scenic damp greenness of western Washington.
coastline, which receive the highest Both the fertile Yakima Valley, the fifth-
amounts of rainfall in the state. largest producer of fruits and vegetables
Western Washington contains the state’s in the US, and the Walla Walla Valley are
most populous areas, which lie in the known for their many excellent wineries.
corridor along Interstate-5, especially Farther north, the magnificent Grand
between Tacoma and Seattle. In the far Coulee Dam harnesses the power of
northwest, scattered off the coast, are the the mighty Columbia River to provide
San Juan Islands, enjoying on average irrigation water for more than 800 square
247 days of sunshine a year. miles (2,072 square km) of farmland.

Sea kayaks at Snug Harbor in Mitchell Bay, on the west side of San Juan Island
Beautiful fall foliage surrounding the Blue Lake, North Cascades National Park

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