17 Fun & Interesting Facts About Washington State

1. It’s the Contiguous State With the Most Glaciers

If you thought you had to take a cruise to Alaska to see a glacier, think again! While the Last Frontier does have the highest concentration of glaciers in the United States, Washington boasts this label in the lower 48. The state has many high mountains, and glaciers abound there. With over 3,000 of these mammoth ice sheets, you can catch a glimpse or explore the area around a glacier with a visit to the Olympic Mountains, Stuart ranges, or the North Cascade.

[image: pexels]

2. You’ll See Volcanoes, Too

Did we forget to say volcanoes? Yes, Washington hosts a variety of volcanoes, and there are glaciers around those, as well! In the Cascade Range, you’ll find the highly active volcanic peaks of Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams. Although they have a high or very high threat potential, residents go about their days used to the vibrations and emissions, and organizations like the Washington Geological Survey, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the Washington Emergency Management Division work together to monitor the volcanoes for any threats.

3. Water is Everywhere

If your goal of fun is water activities or you simply enjoy being near the lake, head to Lake Chelan. Formed by glaciers, it’s the deepest lake in the state and the third deepest lake in America. Lake Chelan is the go-to place for hikers, swimmers, water parks, and the fishing industry. 

But Lake Chelan and the many other lakes in Washington, as well as the Pacific Ocean along its coast, aren’t the only source of water. Grand Coulee Dam is a magnificent hydropower producer, boasting its claim as the largest in the United States. It’s a favorite attraction for tourists, and residents appreciate the fact that its powerful production of energy supplies over two million homes each year. 

4. Ferry Transportation is Popular

The ferry system in Washington State, called WSF for Washington State Ferries, is the largest of its kind in the country. The fleet carries people and vehicles throughout the Puget Sound and Salish Sea area, connecting places like the San Juan Islands and Bainbridge Island.

5. Native American Tribes Lived Here for 12,000 Years

Archaeological evidence places Native Americans in Washington about 10-12,000 years ago. Bones (human and animal), tools, and other finds show inhabitants along the Columbia River and surrounding tributaries. Researchers have even found evidence of cremation burial from 9500 BC at the Marmes Rockshelter! Other sites show proof of mammoth hunting, middens (garbage dumps), and the progression of life transitioning from nomads to river dwellers.

6. The History of the State Seal is Famous

The first seal of the State of Washington was created by a jeweler named George Talcott. His famous likening of George Washington was in the form of a postage stamp with the President’s picture inside it. The image was “framed” in two rings that used a silver dollar and an ink bottle to line it. The jeweler made the seal a family affair when his brothers wrote “Great Seal of the State of Washington 1880” between the circles. From there, a die was created and cut to continue printing the image, and the first seal was made.

7. Washington Has Many State Animals

Are you an animal lover? So is Washington? The state is home to so many varieties of living creatures that they’ve made a long list of animals to represent them, from amphibians to fish, including: 

● Pacific chorus frog (amphibian)

● Olympic marmot (endemic mammal)

● Orca (marine mammal)

● Wild canary (bird)

● Green darner dragonfly (insect)

● Steelhead trout (fish) 

There’s even a state mollusk in the works! While nothing has been decided yet, the banana slug is in the lead.

8. Surprise: The State Fruit is … You Guessed It … the Apple!

The late president’s connection with apples is the stuff of prime myth — part fact, part fiction, — but his namesake state is full of these juicy fruits. From Red Delicious to Granny Smith and beyond, Washington’s apples are sold in 60 countries globally. It’s no surprise that this important produce is the state’s fruit!

9. The State Gem is Petrified Wood

Diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires … this is the list most of us think of when we picture gems. But Washington State knows what’s truly valuable, and they’ve chosen petrified wood as their state gem. This doesn’t quite mean “trees,” though. Instead, lava flows and sand infiltration over millions of years have created fossilized, petrified versions of ancient cypress, oak, elm, and gingko trees, and these specimens are found in the Gingko Petrified Forest State Park.

10. Washington Has Its Own Pod of Orcas

A visit to the Salish Sea at just the right time might give you a glimpse of the J, K, and L orca families that grace the waters throughout the year. When the temperatures are ideal, these orca whales, called the Southern Residents, like to frolic and eat in the Puget Sound and surrounding water.

11. Snoqualmie Falls Is Higher Than Niagara Falls 

At 268 feet high, Snoqualmie Falls soars nearly 100 feet over its more popular waterfall counterpart, Niagara Falls. Used as a hydroelectric plant for more than a century, this majestic wonder is located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. Native American myths and legends abound, and the falls are on the state’s Register of Historic Places as the first spiritual site to make the list.

12. Olympic National Park is a Rain Forest 

When you think of rainforests, tropical destinations like Brazil probably pop into your head. But Olympic National Park in Washington is full of moist air stemming from the Pacific Ocean, turning the land into a rainforest. With over 12 feet of rain annually, the lush valleys create a unique ecosystem that is home to a variety of unusual plants and animals rarely seen in the United States.

13. Wine Tasting Rooms Are a Favorite Pastime

As the second-largest wine-producing region in America, wine tastings are a common tradition in Washington. With over 1,000 wineries and over 60,000 acres of grapes produces just for wine, the state is a popular viticultural area.

14. The Largest Man-Made Island is in Seattle

Sure, Seattle is famous for being home to the very first Starbucks, but if that’s not enough to intrigue your tourist tastebuds, check out Harbor Island. Also located in Seattle, this island is the largest one in the United States.

15. Natural Disaster-Free?

With so many volcanoes and mountains in the state, you’d think it was the prime place for natural disasters to strike. However, Washington rarely has significant problems with nature. Data shows 36 major national disasters since 1980, placing the rate at an average of one per year. Compared to other states in the country, where hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, wildfires, earthquakes, and avalanches are regular parts of life, Washington is pretty calm.

16. You Can Visit Hell - the Canyon, That Is 

Hells Canyon, the deepest gorge in North America at 8,000 feet in depth, is located in Washington. At its highest point, the descent into the canyon takes you 7,900 feet down, which is almost 2,000 feet deeper than its rival, the Grand Canyon.

17. There’s a Bridge … for Squirrels

Remember how we said Washington is very animal-friendly? Well, one person in Longview went over and above in 1963. Amos Peters was so concerned about the safety of squirrels that he built a bridge 12 feet over the Olympia Way road to keep these furry creatures safe.