Washington’s Geographic Regions
Washington can be divided
into 5 geographic regions
•
•
On the west Western Lowlands and the Coastal Region and the
Cascade Mountains running down the center of the state
The Rocky Mountain Gateway in the interior which consists of the
Okanogan Highlands in the northeast and the Columbia Plateau
Western Lowlands and the Coastal Region on the west
Puget Sound Basin
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.
Western Lowlands and the Coastal Region on the west
Seattle/King County
The Puget Sound region is the economic
center of Washington. Settlement began in
the 1840's, starting from the Oregon
Territory then gradually moving north. Small
communities developed along the shores of
Puget Sound, beginning with Tumwater
and then to Seattle and beyond.
The region goes from the crest of the
Cascades on the east to the Kitsap
Peninsula on west. Thurston County,
contains the state capital Olympia, at the
southern edge. Many people use the term
"Puget Sound" to include the waters all the
way to Canada, but north of Whidbey Island
is not really part of Puget Sound. The other
major cities are Tacoma, Everett,
Bellevue, and Federal Way.
Western Lowlands and the Coastal Region on the west
Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas
The Olympic Peninsula is sparsely populated but
important to Washington for its natural resources and for
its attractiveness for visitors. Most of the peninsula
belongs to the federal government and is contained in
either the Olympic National Park or Olympic National
Forest.
Most of the population is at
the northern edge in:
 Port Angeles
 Port Townsend
 Forks
 Sequim
Grays Harbor is in the
southwest corner, with its
twin cities of Hoquiam and
Aberdeen.
Shelton is in the southeast
corner.
Puget Sound Lowlands and the Coastal Region on the west
Temperate Rainforest



The most famous temperate
rainforest in the United States is in
the Olympic National Park of
Washington State.
It is locates on the western slope of
an Olympic Mountains where it
gets about 200 inches of rain per
year.
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
except for coastal cities such as
Port Townsend.
Western Lowlands and the Coastal Region on the west
San Juan Islands

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 unspoiled 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.
Washington's Cascade Mountains running down the center of the state
Cascade Mountain Range
The Washington Cascades are part of the Cascade Mountain Range which extends
from British Columbia to California. They separate the moist and mild coastal side from
the drier interior of Eastern Washington. Offering hundreds of miles of hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails; many ski resorts; and countless opportunities for
camping, backpacking and mountain climbing in one of the world's most beautiful and
accessible mountain ranges.
The Cascade
Mountains are a
young range whose
volcanoes are still
active. There are five
volcanoes in the
Washington Cascades:
•Glacier Peak
•Mount St Helens
•Mount Adams
•Mount Rainier
•Mount Baker
Washington's Cascade Mountains running down the center of the state
Mount Rainier

Nevertheless, most
scientists believe that
the two million annual
visitors to Mount Rainier
National Park with be
safe for at least another
5 centuries.
Mount Rainier, the tallest peak
in the Cascades, is officially
dormant but may explode one
day in a similar manner as did
before Mount Saint Helens.
Washington's Cascade Mountains running down the center of the state
Mount Saint Helens

Mount St Helens, in the south of the
state, lost 1,300 feet in height when it
blew its top on May 18, 1980.
Rocky Mountain Gateway
Deserts of the Columbia River turn to rolling wheat fields of the Palouse as
you move farther east. Spokane as the major city center.

Most of the irrigation, comes from the Grand Coulee Dam;
even the dry parts have become important agriculturally
where they grow apples, wheat and major food products.
Other cities are Walla Walla and the tri-cities of Richland,
Kennewick and Pasco. Pullman, which is the home of
Washington State University.
the Okanogan Highlands in the northeast and the Columbia Plateau
Columbia Plateau

The Columbia Plateau
is a major agricultural
region. It receives 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.
the Okanogan Highlands in the northeast and the Columbia Plateau
Grand Coulee Dam

Harnessing the Columbia
River for irrigation, power and
flood control, the dam is said to
be the most massive concrete
structure in the world.The dam
is 550 feet high, 500 feet wide
at its base and 5,223 feet long.
It is also the 3rd largest
producer of electricity in the
world. The reservoir impounded
by the dam is called Franklin D
Roosevelt Lake. Communities
sprang up during construction
and have remained during the
operation of the dam, including
Electric City, Grand Coulee,
and the town of Coulee Dam.
This is Washington