Population: 6 830.038 thousand people (2011)
Area: 184827.0 sq. km
According to citypopulationreview.com, Washington was nicknamed the Evergreen State because of the huge amount of coniferous forests. This area is characterized by high humidity and the largest number of cloudy days per year in the United States. This climate is due to several mountain ranges, following one after another from the Pacific coast deep into the continent. Thus, the Coast Ranges with the majestic volcano Olympus (2424 meters) are followed by cascading mountains, which are crowned by the volcano Rainier (4392 meters). The eastern regions are dominated by the spurs of the Columbian Plateau. The moisture carried by the winds from the Pacific Ocean is retained by the mountains and falls as rain on the forests of Washington.
The rivers of Washington are very full-flowing, as they are fed not only by heavy rains, but also by the melting snows of the mountains. Most of the rivers belong to the Columbia Basin, which is the state’s largest waterway. The coastline is formed by the narrow Pugent Bay, the Strait of Georgia and many small islands.
The Indian tribes of the coast (Chinook, Skokomish, Sinixt, Sukvomish) were engaged in fishing and whale fighting. Europeans came here from the ocean. In 1775, the Spaniard de Eceta visited here. Until the end of the 18th century, navigators explored only the coast (D. Cook, C. Barclay, M. Kimper, F. Elisa, D. Vancouver, R. Gray). Since 1819, when Spain renounced these territories, Great Britain and the United States claimed them. The dispute was resolved in favor of the United States (1846). The Territory of Oregon was founded, which was reformed into the Territory of Columbia, and then was named after George Washington. Washington received statehood in 1889.
The industrial potential of the state is great. The famous Boeings were “born” here, the main offices of many corporations, in particular Microsoft, are located in Seattle. Gold, copper, silver and lead are mined here. However, despite the development of industry and high-tech industries, the Washington authorities treat nature with care: national parks, educational and exciting excursions into the bosom of nature are very popular with both local residents and vacationers. Alpine skiing, mountaineering, kayaking are popular. The main architectural and cultural objects are concentrated in Seattle: the Space Needle, the Aviation Museum, the Gaswork Park, the Aquarium, the zoo, the landscape Japanese park, underground quarters in Pioneer Square and others.
BELLEVUE
Population: 126.626 thousand people (2009)
Area: 87.8 sq. km
Founded: 1869
Time zone: UTC
Altitude: 26 m
Bellevue is located in the state of Washington. To the southeast of it rises Mount Cougar. The western neighborhood is adjacent to Lake Washington. Several suburbs lie between the city and the natural body of water, among which are Yarrow Point, Clyde Hill, Medina. The northern outskirts are limited by Lake Sammamish. The name of the city, translated from French, sounds like “Beautiful view”, symbolizing the natural beauty of these places, the magnificence of the lake surface and coastal landscapes. A small bridge connects Bellevue to Mercer Island – the largest on Lake Washington. See Washington counties.
Founded in the second half of the 19th century, the settlement received urban status only in 1953. Its modern center was formed around the shopping center, now the largest in the state. The first high-rise buildings appeared in the city in the early 1980s. Now they have become the dominant development in the central part of the city. Among them are high-rise residential and office complexes. On one of the streets is the famous Museum of Doll Art. Its halls store original exhibits. The museum is famous for the world’s largest collection of dolls.
VANCOUVER
Population: 150,000 thousand people (2009)
Time zone: UTC-8, summer UTC-7
Altitude: 52 m
On the north bank of the Columbia River lies the city of Vancouver, the county seat of Clark County. Within its boundaries there is a port, in the waters of which sea vessels can enter. On the opposite river bank is the city of Portland. The two settlements are connected by a bridge. Firms specializing in the production of electronic components, lumber and other products operate in the city. Vancouver is famous for its natural attractions. One of them is a park stretching along the river coast. On its territory there are protected landscaped areas with residential cottages. Wild areas of the park serve as a habitat for various animals.
The city is known as the final destination of Valery Chkalov’s first non-stop flight over the North Pole. In 2007, Vancouver hosted celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of transpolar flight. In the city, thanks to the efforts of the Chkalovsky Committee, a museum and a memorial complex dedicated to the historical event were created. Now, at the place where the ANT-25 landed, a granite complex rises.
OLYMPIA
Population: 46.478 thousand people (2010)
Area: 50.1 sq. km
Date of foundation: 1851
City status since: 1859
Time zone: UTC-8, summer UTC-7
Altitude: 29 m
Olympia is the capital of the state of Washington, but even among the cities of the state, it is a small city. Olympia is located in the southern part of the Puget Sound, at the confluence of the Deschutes River.
The indigenous inhabitants of these places are the Suquomish Indians. In 1792, the first “white” explorers came here in the person of the expedition of George Vancouver. The development of the land began with the appearance in 1841 of a trading post here. In 1846 it became a permanent settlement. In the early years, it grew due to the settlers who settled here, who came to these parts along the Oregon route. In 1853, he was given the name Olympia in honor of the Olympic Range, which is located nearby. At the same time, the town became the administrative center of Washington Territory, and so it remained, even after the territory was reformed into a state.
There are no large industrial enterprises in Olympia, the city is developing at the expense of the public sector and education. Tourism is one of the important components of the city’s economy. There are excellent conditions for outdoor activities (mountain hiking, yachting), routes to the surrounding national parks and reserves begin from Olympia, where unique temperate forests have been preserved.
