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Washington is the northwesternmost state of the contiguous United States. It borders Idaho to the east, bounded mostly by the meridian running north from the confluence of the Snake River and Clearwater River (about 117°02'23" west), except for the southernmost section where the border follows the Snake River.
- 71,362 sq mi (184,827 km²)
- Overview
- Relief and drainage
- Soils
- Climate
Washington, constituent state of the United States of America. Lying at the northwestern corner of the 48 conterminous states, it is bounded by the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north, the U.S. states of Idaho to the east and Oregon to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The capital is Olympia, located at the southern end of Puget Sound in the western part of the state. 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 highly urbanized area around Puget Sound that includes Seattle, Everett, Tacoma, and other cities. Area 71,298 square miles (184,661 square km). Pop. (2020) 7,705,281; (2023 est.) 7,812,880.
Washington has seven physiographic regions. In the northwest the Olympic Peninsula borders the Pacific Ocean south of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Dense rainforests 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, north and east of the hills, to the fertile Chehalis and Cowlitz valleys.
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The Puget Sound Lowland stretches southward from Canada between the Olympic Mountains and the Cascade Range to join the valleys of the Chehalis and Cowlitz rivers, 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 conterminous United States. Mount St. Helens, located in the Cascades near the Oregon border, erupted violently in 1980 and blasted away its volcanic cone, reducing the mountain’s elevation from 9,677 feet (2,950 metres) to 8,363 feet (2,549 metres). The highest peaks of the Cascades have permanent glaciers.
The most productive soils in Washington are those of the river floodplains along with the weathered basalts and windblown silts of the Columbia basin. In wetter areas acidic soils support forests, but the driest regions east of the Cascades have sparse plant life and require irrigation for agriculture. The fine-textured sandy soils of the Big Bend ...
Prevailing westerly winds and the influence of the Pacific Ocean dominate the climate of Washington, although the Cascades barrier creates significant differences between western and eastern regions. The west has milder conditions than any other part of the United States at the same latitudes. Seattle has average January temperatures in the low 40s F (about 5 °C) and average July temperatures in the mid-60s F (about 19 °C). Annual precipitation on the Pacific side of the Olympic Peninsula exceeds 150 inches (3,800 mm), but places on the northwest of the peninsula receive less than 20 inches (500 mm) a year. Typical annual totals in the Puget Sound Lowland range between 30 and 40 inches (750 and 1,000 mm). The Cascades receive more than 100 inches (2,500 mm) of precipitation annually.
East of the Cascade Range, seasonal temperature variations are greater, but the Rocky Mountains shield the region to some extent from cold Canadian air masses in winter. Maximum summer temperatures usually exceed 100 °F (38 °C) a few days each year. Spokane’s January average temperatures are in the mid-20s F (about −4 °C); July average temperatures are about 70 °F (21 °C). Annual precipitation is about 17 inches (430 mm) in Spokane but less than 8 inches (200 mm) in the lower Yakima valley.
Plan your trip to Washington DC with the official tourism site. Find out what's happening, where to stay, what to see and do, and how to get around the nation's capital.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly called Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. [13] The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with Maryland to its north and east. Washington, D.C., was named for George Washington, a Founding Father ...
- United States
- 0 ft (0 m)
- 409 ft (125 m)
- 20001–20098, 20201–20599, 56901–56999
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Discover the diverse regions and attractions of Washington State, from metro areas to national parks, beaches, islands, and mountains. Find visitor guides, trip inspiration, and planning tools for your next vacation.
Find online state services, government agencies, and helpful guides for various needs in Washington State. Learn about the latest news, events, and policies affecting the state and its residents.
