Washington State, nicknamed the Evergreen State, should perhaps be called the 'Friendly State' in honour of the friendliness, helpfulness and neighbourliness of its inhabitants. The landscape can best described as rugged with extremes of scenery and features. The beauty of this lush state is emphasised by the dominating conifer forests interspersed with hemlock and red cedar trees and the varied wildlife population - elk, deer, moose, cougars and black bears. All this together with the smaller inhabitants of this beautiful land, bobcats, skunks, gophers, foxes and coyotes are the ingredients which go into making up this vast clean land with countryside slashed by the Rocky and Cascade mountains and the Snake River.
Seattle is an intriguing city from the top of the Space Needle to the city's fascinating "Underground Seattle." Ferries wend they way through the surrounding waters and add to the romance of the harbor. Those who pass through Seattle on their way to somewhere else miss out on one of America's most beautiful areas. Not far from Seattle is Puget Sound and the impressive Olympic Peninsula where rare elk abound and rainforest enchants the visitor. The Olympic National Park, untouched sine Indian times, beckons visitors to linger just a while longer.
Washington was the 42nd state to be incorporated into the United States on November 11th 1889. It is 71,303 miles² (184,674km² ) and the 18th largest state in America. The highest point of Washington State is Mount Rainier at 4,392m (14,410ft). Washington State is to the extreme north-western corner of the continental United States. The Canadian province of British Columbia borders on the north and Idaho and Oregon form the eastern and southern borders. To the West lie Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean.
Washington State offers a vast variety of things to do and places of interest to visit, whether it be historical, sporting or natural. Climb mountains, fish or sail in Puget Sound, explore the lush forests and deserts or just take your time and wander around the selection of museums and shops in the cities and towns. It is without a doubt that Washington State offers something for everyone.
Did you know?
- Washington State is called the Evergreen State because of its extensive forests - more than half the total land area is covered by forests.
- James Marshall 'Jimi Hendrix', Judy Collins and Bing Cosby were born in Washington State.
- The grunge band Nirvana is Seattle-based.
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