A very common mistake is the belief that the capital of the United States of America - the city of Washington - is located in the state that has the same name. On the geography exam, such an answer will be regarded as unsatisfactory. Because the state of Washington is located very far from the District of Columbia, where the capital of the United States is located. Even if for someone this fact is a sensation.
Geographic facts
Washington State is located on the Pacific coast of the country. This is the extreme northwestern territory of the continental United States, if you do not take into account Alaska, located apart. Washington State borders the Canadian province of British Columbia to the north, Oregon to the south, and Idaho to the east. The administrative capital of the state is the city of Olympia, and the largest and in many ways notable city is Seattle. In terms of area, Washington State ranks eighteenth in the nation. Climatically, the territory of the state belongs to the middle lane and is quite comfortable for life in any season of the year.
From the history of the state
Europeans reached these remote areas on the Pacific coast only insecond half of the eighteenth century. These were the Spaniards, and a little later - the British. The coast of the strait separating the territory of the modern state of Washington from what was later called British Columbia was studied and mapped by the famous British navigator James Cook. Beginning in 1819, this stretch of coast was controlled by the United States and was part of the territory referred to as "Oregon". In 1854, the northern part of this territory separated into the Autonomous District of Columbia, which was later renamed in honor of one of the so-called "founding fathers" of the North American United States, George Washington. But the territory received the status of a full-fledged US state only on November 11, 1889, after some changes in the borders. Thus, the state of Washington became the forty-second state in the country.
Nature
Washington State is well known to all fans of Hollywood cinema. His visual image is involved in many films. Suffice it to recall only the saga about vampires "Twilight", popular in many countries of the world. Her heroes live among the mountains and forests of this state. Mountain ranges cover much of the American Northwest. The expressive natural landscape, combined with a relatively mild Pacific climate, provides the state with not only comfortable living conditions, but also a high potential for tourism development. The largest cities in the state of Washington are concentrated in the Pacific coastal strip, which is characterized bymilder climate. In mountainous areas during the winter season there are intense snowfalls and snowdrifts. This circumstance makes some mountain passes and certain sections of motorways temporarily inaccessible.
Economy and transport
The state's geographical position has had a decisive influence on the development of its industrial and transport infrastructure. Washington is always referred to as the most distant territory from the center. Which state is next? In the continental part of the country - only Alaska. The outlying position of the state and the complex nature of the terrain, characteristic of most of its territory, required a serious approach and significant financial investments in the development of transport communications that provide communication with the center of the country and with the Canadian province in the north. Access to the Pacific Ocean predetermined the development of the state of Washington as the most important center of domestic and international shipping. For this purpose, a developed port infrastructure has been built along the entire coast. The northwest of the United States is known for its level of high technology development. In particular, the main production facilities of the Boeing Corporation are located here. On a significant part of aviation and space technology around the world, you can find the mark "Washington State, USA". The state's industry is dominated by electronics and software development. In particular, in the city of Redmond, in the suburbs of Seattle, the headquarters of the corporation is located. Microsoft. The state's economy is actively exploiting its natural recreational potential. Tourists willingly travel to the west coast from areas located in the interior of the continental space, as well as from many other countries of the world.
Seattle
This largest city in the state of Washington was founded in 1851. The name of the settlement was named after an influential Indian leader, who enjoyed authority both among Native Americans and settlers from the east. Currently, Seattle is one of the largest commercial, industrial, scientific and cultural centers of the entire west coast of the United States of America. This city on the Pacific coast has its own bright and unique visual image and lifestyle. The pace of Seattle's economy in the second half of the nineteenth century, among other things, was provided by a large stock of untapped natural resources of the Pacific coast. The famous "gold rush" also had a positive effect on the development of the city. It was the starting point from which numerous gold diggers headed for Alaska. And some of them came back with rich booty. Currently, the economy of the city, like the entire state of Washington, is associated with the development of maritime trade, shipbuilding and high technology.
Architectural Features of Seattle
In terms of tourism, this is the most attractive city in the north of the west coast. The city has many attractions. The most famous tourist attraction is the Space Needle, built for the 1962 World's Fair. Its panoramic observation deck offers a magnificent view of the city and its surroundings. The architecture of the business center of the city is peculiar, the skyscrapers of which compete with other American cities in terms of height and at the same time favorably differ in the exclusivity of constructive solutions.
