Washington

Washington is a state located in
the northwestern United States. It
should not be confused with              [Us-wa.gif]    [Washingtonstateseal.jpg]
Washington, D.C., the capital of         (In Detail)       (Full size)
the USA. While the state capital       State nickname: Evergreen State
is Olympia, the largest city in
Washington is Seattle. As of the   [Map of USA highlighting Washington.png]
2000 census, the state population
is approximately 5.9 million.                  Other U.S. States
Residents are called
"Washingtonians".                  Capital               Olympia
                                   Largest City          Seattle
The USS Washington was named in
honor of this state.               Area                  Ranked 18th
                                   Ê- Total              184,824 km2
                                   Ê- Land               172,587 km2
                                   Ê- Water              12,237 km2
                                   Ê- % water            6.6%
                                   Population            Ranked 15th
                                   Ê- Total (2000)       5,894,121
                                   Ê- Density            32/km2
                                   Admittance into Union                 
                                    - Order              42nd
                                   Ê- Date               November 11, 1889
                                   Time zone             Pacific: UTC-8/-7
History
                                   Latitude              45¡32'N to 49¡N
In 1853, the Washington Territory  Longitude             116¡57'W to
was formed from part of the Oregon                       124¡48'W
Territory. Washington became the   Width                 385 km
42nd state in the United States on Length                580 km
November 11, 1889.                 Elevation             Ê
                                   Ê -Highest            4,392 meters
Geography                          Ê -Mean               520 meters
                                   Ê -Lowest             0 meters
                                   ISO 3166-2:           US-WA

Washington shares borders with the Pacific Ocean to the west, Oregon to the
south, Idaho to the east, and British Columbia, Canada to the north.
Washington is famous for scenery of breathtaking beauty and sharp contrasts.
High mountains rise above evergreen forests and sparkling coastal waters.
Its coastal location and Puget Sound harbors give it a leading role in trade
with Alaska, Canada, and the Pacific Rim.

The deep forests of the Olympic Peninsula are among the rainiest places in
the world, but the flat semi-desert land that lies east of the Cascade
Mountains stretches for long distances without a single tree. Snow-covered
peaks tower above the foothills and lowlands around them. Mount Rainier, the
highest mountain in the state, appears to "float" on the horizon southeast
of Seattle and Tacoma on clear days.

   * Puget Sound
        o Bainbridge Island
        o San Juan Islands
        o Whidbey Island
        o Vashon Island
   * Columbia River
   * Snake River
   * Yakima River

   * Cascade Range
        o Mount Adams
        o Mount Baker
        o Glacier Peak
        o Mount Rainier
        o Mount St. Helens
        o Mount Stuart
   * Olympic Mountains
        o Mount Olympus

Important Cities and Towns

   * Seattle
   * Spokane
   * Tacoma
   * Vancouver
   * Everett
   * Tri-Cities
   * Yakima

Education

Colleges and Universities

    * Antioch University Seattle          * St. Martin's College
    * Art Institute of Seattle            * Seattle Pacific University
    * Bastyr University                   * Seattle University
    * Central Washington University       * Trinity Lutheran College
    * City University                     * University of Puget Sound
    * Eastern Washington University       * University of Washington
    * The Evergreen State College         * Walla Walla College
    * Gonzaga University                  * Washington State University at
    * Henry Cogswell College                Pullman
    * Heritage College                    * Washington State University at
    * Lutheran Bible Institute of           Spokane
      Seattle                             * Washington State University at
    * Northwest College of the              Tri-Cities
      Assemblies of God                   * Washington State University at
    * Northwest Indian College              Vancouver
    * Pacific Lutheran University         * Western Washington University
                                          * Whitman College
                                          * Whitworth College

Professional Sports Teams

    * Seattle Seahawks, National Football         * Minor League Baseball
      League                                        Teams
    * Seattle Mariners, Major League Baseball          o Tacoma Rainiers
    * Seattle Supersonics, National Basketball         o Everett AquaSox
      Association                                      o Bellingham Bells
    * Seattle Storm, Women's National                  o Yakima Bears
      Basketball Association                           o Spokane Indians
    * Seattle Thunderbirds, Western Hockey             o Tri-City Dust
      League                                             Devils
    * Everett Silvertips, Western Hockey
      League

Arts and culture

   * Music of Washington

Major Highways

   * Interstate 5
   * Interstate 82
   * Interstate 90
   * United States Highway 2
   * United States Highway 12
   * United States Highway 97
   * United States Highway 101