Untitled Lesson

Washington State Regions

​Regions

• Long and narrow area of the state bordering the Pacific Ocean

• Stretches from the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Olympic Peninsula to the mouth of the Columbia River near Long Beach, Washington

• Features include:

  • Rain forests, High mountains of the Olympic Peninsula, Wide and sandy beaches from Ocean Shores to the mouth of the Columbia River

• Traditional industries in the region: Fishing, Lumber, Recreation, Shipping

• Region is sparsely populated

​Coastal Range

• Narrow region approximately 50 miles wide

• Located between the Coastal region and the Cascade Mountains

• Extends from Bellingham/Canadian border to the end of Puget Sound in Olympia region

• Reaches south to less populated river valleys of the Chehalis and Cowlitz Rivers

• Most densely populated region of the state

• Major centers of commerce: Seattle, Everett, and Tacoma

• Hilly area with elevations ranging from sea level to 1,000 feet

• Exposure to salt water on the shore

​Puget Sound/Western Lowlands

• It runs north and south.

• Stretches through Oregon into Northern California.

• Mountains in the Cascades have an average height of 6,000 feet.

• Contains 5 volcanoes in Washington state:

  • Mt. Baker, Glacier Peak, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams,

    Mt. St. Helens

• Acts as a natural barrier between Western/Eastern WA

​Cascade Range

• Location: East of the Cascade Mountains

• Size: Largest geographical region in the state; world's second largest lava plateau (after Deccan Plateau in India)

• Formation: Result of at least 55 different lava flows occurring 10 to 15 million years ago

• Major Rivers: Columbia River and Snake River flow through the Columbia Plateau

• Agriculture: Provides irrigation water for farming a variety of crops, including:

  • Wheat, Grapes, Potatoes, Fruit trees (e.g., apples, cherries)

​Columbia Plateau

• The Rocky Mountains extend from Canada to the Mexico border.

• The segment of the Rockies in Washington is relatively small.

• Altitudes in the Rocky Mountains range from 4,000 to nearly 10,000 feet.

• The region is characterized as isolated and rugged.

• It experiences long, cold winters and short, cool summers.

• This area receives less rain than the Olympic and Cascade Mountains.

• Despite lower rainfall, the precipitation levels are still higher overall.

​Rocky Mountains/ Okanogan Highlands