Washington is the only state named after a president of the United States, George Washington. It is located in the Northwest of the country. Olympia is the state capital, and Seattle the largest city. Washington is famous for breathtaking scenery and sharp contrasts. High mountains tower above thick forests and sparkling coastal waters. Its coastal location and Puget Sound harbors provide a gateway to trade with Alaska, Canada, and the Pacific Rim. Puget Sound's numerous islands are served by one of the largest state ferry fleets in the world.
Washington is a land of juxtapositions. The deep forests of the Olympic Peninsula are among the rainiest places in the world and the only rainforests in the continental United States, but the flat semi-desert that lies east of the Cascade Range stretches for vast distances without a single tree in sight. Snow-capped peaks tower above the foothills and lowlands below them.
|
