Known as the Evergreen State, Washington is a land of many contrasts. It is also the only state in our union named after a president. As the 18th-largest state in terms of square mileage, Washington boasts six different geographic land areas. Of its 71,303 square miles, 66,582 represents land area, while the remaining 4,721 are covered by different forms of water.
Starting from the northwestern corner of the state, the Olympic Mountains border two bodies of water: the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The Olympic Mountains are purely a wilderness area containing several state parks, lakes, waterfalls and natural hot springs. Much of this land area is still unknown, as the only way it can be explored is on foot.
Just south of the Olympics is a smaller mountainous land area known as the Coast Range. Like parts of the Olympics, this range boasts views of the Pacific Ocean, as well as hidden bays and coves. The Willapa Hills are what's known as low uplands, much like those in the Black Hills of South Dakota. They are situated within the Coast Range, overlooking Willapa Bay, which connects to the outlying Pacific.
The Puget Sound Lowlands are situated between the western Olympics and the eastern Cascade mountain ranges. These are peninsula-type lands that are surrounded mostly by water on several sides. The majority of the state's population lives in the lowlands, as they're home to larger cities like Seattle and the state capital of Olympia. To the north, the Puget Sound Bay connects to the Pacific Ocean, as does the Chehalis River to the south, running directly between the Olympics and Willapa Hills.
The Cascades are the largest mountain range in Washington state. There are several volcanic peaks within this land region, but most now lie dormant. Some famous Cascade peaks located in Washington are Mt. Rainier and Mount St. Helens. Rainier tops out at more than 14,000 feet, while St. Helens is now just 8,300 feet high since it erupted in 1980. The Cascade Range features a number of glaciers, and most peaks are permanently snow-capped. Lower regions of the Cascades are home to a number of national forests that showcase local wildlife, lush vegetation and trees.
The Columbia Plateau begins in the center of the state and expands south. Also called the Columbia Basin, it's the largest lava plateau in the world. The Columbia River runs along the plateau from Washington to Oregon and then carves its way out to the coast to meet the Pacific. The Columbia River also passes through the Grand and Moses Coulee canyons, which are similar to the Grand Canyon, only on a smaller scale.
A portion of the Rocky Mountain range is located in the northeastern part of the state. The Washington Rockies are better known as the Columbia Mountains, as the river of the same name flows through this area. A variety of precious minerals are still found here, including limestone, silver, gold, copper, lead and zinc.
