Facts over Washington
State: Washington
Abbreviation: WA
Capital: Olympia
State Since: November 11, 1889
Area Codes: 206, 253, 360, 425, 509
Bird: Willow Goldfinch
Flower: Pink Rhododendron
Largest City: Seattle
Motto: Alki – Bye and Bye
Nickname: The Evergreen State
Population: 5,894,121
Song: Washington, My Home
Tree: Western Hemlock
Time Zone: -8
Adjacent States:
- Oregon
- Idaho
Washington Travel Information
Washington is one of the states of the United States. The standard abbreviation for the “Evergreen State”, as it is nicknamed, is WA. The capital is Olympia. The state of Washington, which is located on the west coast of the US, is sometimes confused with the US capital, Washington, which is located near the east coast.
History
The current state was originally part of a much larger area, the Oregon Territory. On November 11, 1889, Washington formally became the 42nd state of the United States. The state is named after its first president, George Washington.
Geography
The state covers 184,824 km², of which 172,587 km² is land. The state is located in the Pacific time zone and is located on the Pacific Ocean and is bordered by Canada to the north, Idaho to the east and Oregon to the south.
The Coastal Mountains run from north to south through the center of the state. The highest point is the top of the volcano Mount Rainier (4392 m). To the south is Mount Saint Helens, an active volcano. The bay Puget Sound, on which Seattle is located, connects to the Pacific Ocean via, among other things, the Juan de Fuca Strait.
The Columbia, which rises in Canada and defines much of the Oregon border, discharges two other larger rivers, the Spokane and the Snake. In northwest Washington, the so-called Olympic Penninsula, Washington has a rainforest.
Demography and economy
In 2000, Washington had 5,894,121 inhabitants (32 per km²). The largest cities are Seattle, Tacoma and Spokane. The gross product of the state in 2001 was $223 billion. Especially in the east of the state, large areas are Indian reservations or in use by the American defense.
Major companies based in Washington state are:
- Boeing
- Microsoft
- Starbucks
- Costco (Gestart in Kirkland, Washington)
- UPS (Gestart in Washington)
SEATTLE
Washington
Facts over Seattle
State: Washington
City since: 1869
Motto / Nickname: Metronatural
Population: 594,210
Area: 369.2 km2
Time zone: -8
Top Spots:
- Museum of flight
- Space Needle
- Experience Music Project
- Pioneer Square
- The Original Starbucks
- Pike Place Market
Seattle Travel Information
The city of Seattle is located in the state of Washington and is the city of big names, such as Bill Gates (Microsoft), Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana and aircraft manufacturer Boeing. This includes Starbucks: the coffee chain that is now busy conquering Europe, but once started with its first store in Seattle. Seattle is still a city of coffee. There are a lot of tents where you can order a coffee to go or where you can enjoy your coffee in peace. Handy during a walking tour in the city along the many sights.
Attractions
The new attractions include the Experience Music Project and the Star Wars Museum, as well as the new library, designed by our very own Rem Koolhaas. The Experience Music Project is a hands-on museum and is an experience for both adults and children. The Star Wars museum allows you to (re)experience both the present and the past of this film genre. And while you’re here, a visit to the Space Needle should not be missed. Built in 1962 for the World’s Fair, this striking Seattle landmark offers stunning views of the city. On clear days you can even see Mount Rainier, the sister of Mount St Helens.
Architecture
For people who love architecture, a visit to the library, designed by Rem Koolhaas, is a must. The building stands out for its ingenious steel construction with many diamond-shaped windows (almost 10,000). This steel construction is intended to represent a cloth draped over the building. Because the different layers of the library are staggered, the striking shape is created. The interior of the building is just as special and color themes are the main focus here. It is possible to get a guided tour from volunteers: definitely worth it!
Shopping
The shopping enthusiast will also be able to enjoy themselves in Seattle. Clothing of all types and brands. But there are also plenty of more specialist shops. A true experience is Pike Place Market where all possible foodstuffs are sold. This market is open early in the morning and is a true spectacle. Upon entering you wonder where all the noise is coming from. It turns out that the staff at the fish stall is to blame. The fish is not handed over to each other, but is thrown over to eventually arrive neatly packed at the customer. Very entertaining. And if you’ve worked up an appetite for all those goodies, you can order a typical American breakfast at the eatery where they also had breakfast in the movie Sleepless in Seattle. The variety of egg dishes on the menu is unprecedented.
