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Washington State by Regions
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Washington State is diverse in its geography as well as its economic, agricultural, and recreational opportunities. From the rainforests and untamed beaches of the coastal region, the high deserts of the east, the glaciers and towering volcanoes of the Cascade mountains, and the farmlands that produce the finest fruits, grains & wines in the world - Washington State has it all. Whether you are looking to visit, or stay for a lifetime, Washington has ample opportunities for all. And no one knows the state better than the local Chambers of Commerce. They are experts in assisting individuals and businesses with everything from travel information to detailed demographics about their area. The Olympic Mountains in the northwest corner of Washington are bordered on the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. To the east of the Olympic Mountains lies Puget Sound and to the south of the mountains is the Coast Range. The Olympic Mountains are wild areas indeed. Some areas are thought to have never been explored. Most of this land area lies within the borders of Olympic National Park. To the south of the Olympic Mountains in the southeast corner of Washington is the land area referred to as the Coast Range. The Coast Range runs south into Oregon. The most notable features of the Coast Range in Washington are the Willapa Hills which overlook Willapa Bay. To the east of the Olympic Mountains and the west of the Cascade Mountains, Puget Bay extends south into Washington and north into British Columbia, Canada. The Puget Sound Lowlands also include the land along the Chehalis River that runs to the Pacific Ocean between the Olympic Mountains in the north and the Willapa Hills in the south. This is the Valley of the Chehalis River. About 3/4 of Washington's population live in the Puget Sound Lowlands. Most of the states cities, including Tacoma and the state capital, Olympia are located on the lowlands. Puget Sound is connected to the Pacific Ocean in the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca To the east of the Puget Sound Lowlands the great Cascade Mountains rise high, several peaks extending more than 10,000 feet into the sky. Mt. Rainier, the highest point in Washington is located in the Cascade Mountains along with Mount St. Helens which erupted in 1980. This 700-mile chain of mountains is marked by several volcanic peaks, most of them inactive. Besides Mt. Rainier (14,410 feet), Mount Adams (12,307 feet), Mount Baker (10,778 feet) and Glacier Peak (10,541 feet) are prominent in the Cascade Mountain range. All of the higher mountains support glaciers and permanent snow cover on their upper slopes. The lower slopes and lower mountains are carpeted with beautiful, lush forests, most located within designated National Forest areas. Visit Mt. Rainier National Park. Most of southern and central Washington is covered by the Columbia Plateau land area, also referred to as the Columbia Basin. This area is elevated from 500 to 2,000 feet above sea level and surrounded by higher lands It's part of the largest lava plateau in the world. The Columbia Plateau lies to the south and the east of the great bend in the Columbia River. Features of the Columbia Plateau are described as "coulees" and "scablands." Coulees are dry canyons with steep walls cut into the lava thousands of years ago. When glaciers blocked the Columbia River on its way to the Pacific, rushing water and ice cut trenches across the plateau. When the glaciers melted and the Columbia River was free to fall into its present course, these rivers and streams dried up. Grand Coulee and Moses Coulee are the most notable of these canyons. Scablands are patches of lava lying on the surface of the plateau. The Palouse country of Washington lies in the southeastern portion of the Columbia Plateau. The rolling hills of Palouse Country provide a deep fertile soil that supports much of Washington's wheat farming. The Blue Mountains lie in the deep southeastern corner of Washington. These mountains, lower than the Cascades or the Olympic Mountains, provide land for hay and grains in the valleys and summer grazing for livestock on the slopes.
A portion of the Rocky Mountains cuts across Washington in the northeast corner of the state. The Washington Rocky Mountains are called the Columbia Mountains and consist of ridges and valleys cut by the Columbia River and its tributaries including the Okanogan River. Minerals such as copper, gold, lead, limestone, magnesite, silver and zinc are found in the Columbia Mountains. Please select a region from the map above, or the links below to discover just what makes Washington, and the local Chambers of Commerce, so special. Region 1 - The Peninsula, Pacific Coast, & Puget Sound Islands including the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Region 2 - Whatcom & Skagit Counties including Mt. Baker and the North Cascades Region 3 - Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia and Metro Puget Sound area Region 4 - Southwest & Columbia River Gorge Region 5 - North Central WA Okanogan and Chelan Region 6 - South Central WA including Yakima (WA wine region) & Moses Lake Areas Region 7 - North East - Washington Rockies, Ferry, Stevens and Pend Orielle counties Region 8 - Spokane and the Inland Empire Region 9 - Walla Walla, Columbia & Garfield counties (WA wine region)
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