Washington State

Washington State is the 18th largest state in the United States. It is located in the Pacific Northwest, bordered by Oregon and Idaho. It is the only state named after a President. Major businesses in the area include jet aircraft (due to Boeing), computer software development (due to Microsoft, Amazon.com and Nintendo), biotechnology, aluminum production, lumber and wood products and mining.

This state is divided by the Cascade Range which runs north to south. To the west of the Cascade Range , often referred to as Western Washington, a marine west coast climate prevails with mild temperatures, wet winters with usually some snow and dry summers. There are dense forests with an area on the Olympic Peninsula that has the Hoh Rain Forest. In contrast , the area just east of the Cascades is somewhat dry with some desert; however, as you go more to the east you will see more moisture and grassland that is covered with farmlands. There are also forests and some mountainous areas in this area known as Eastern Washington. [1]

There are 5 vocanic mountains in Washington: Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams. All of these mountains are considered as active volcanoes but only Mount St. Helens is considered as erupting. Also, Mount Rainier, being the highest mountain in the state is said to be covered with more glacial ice than any other peak in the lower 48 states. [2]

It was the 42nd state admitted to the Union, on November 11, 1889. Prior to arrival of European explorers, the area was had many Native American settlers, including Chinook, Lummi, Quinault, Makah, Quileute, and Snohomish. The Plateau tribes include the Cayuse, Nez Percé, Okanogan, Palouse, Spokane, Wenatchee, and Yakima. Today the state has 20 Native American Reservations. During World War II, the Puget Sound area became very important due to the Boeing Company producing the nation's heavy bombers and ports in Seattle, Bremerton, Vancouver, and Tacoma.

1. Flower: Coast Rhododendron
2. Tree: Western Hemlock
3. Bird: Willow Goldfinch
4. Song: Washington, My Home
5. Fish: Steelhead Trout
6. Gem: Petrified Wood
7. Dance: Square Dance
8. Folk Song: Roll On, Columbia, Roll On
9. Fruit: Apple
10. Grass: Bluebunch Wheatgrass
11. Insect: Green Darner Dragonfly
12. Fossil: Columbian Mammoth
13. Marine Mammal: Orca
14. Amphibianamphibian: Pseudacris regilla
15. Ship: Lady Washington

1. There is a Petrified Forest called Ginkgo at the base of the Cascade Mountains, near town of Vantage.unusal-washington-state-facts

2. The NE portion of the state has prime wheat farming area which was land given by the federal government to the Nez Perce Indian Tribe. This land produces more wheat per acre than any other area in the world.unusal-washington-state-facts

3. The Federal Government built the town of Richland to support The Manhatton Project which created fuel for one of the atomic bombs.unusal-washington-state-facts

4. The state is named in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States but did you know that there were towns of George and Martha in Washington? Martha no longer exists. George was home to outdoor music events.

5. Point Roberts, an unincorporated community in Whatcom County, WA USA can only be reached from the US by boat or by traveling thru Canada.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/point_roberts_washington

6. There is an old law that bans lollipops in Washington.http://www.rcasteel.com/StrangeThings/laws.aspx