|
|
The Cascade Mountains run north and south through Washington, diiding it into two parts, then southward through Oregon to California. To the west in Washington are the Olympic Peninsula and the Puget Sound basin, where most of the people of the state lie. To the east are highlands and the Columbia Plateau, dry, rugged land that is more sparsely populated.
The Cascades are relatiely young mountains whose sharp peaks and ragged ridges have not beven smoothed by erosion. Well-known peaks in the Cascades include Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, and Mount Adams.
North Cascades National Park, the northern part of the range, extending to the Canadian border, contains national forests and recreational areas. Peaks found in the North Cascades include Mount Baker, Bacon Peak, Mount Logan, and Mount Redoubt.
On the eastern slope is Lake Chelan, the largest natural lake in the state. Lake Chelan is a glacial lake 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) long and nearly 1,500 feet (450 meters) deep in some places. The southern Cascades are older and less rugged and have a softer appearance, but they include the majestic Mount Rainier, the highest peak in Washington, and Mount St. Helens, a olcanic peak that erupted in 1980.
|
driving from one side of the state to the other requires crossing high mountain passes. Roads cure back on themseles as they wind through the mountains. In summer, the drive is usually uneventful, but in winter, it is thrilling. Snowfall, ice, and snow slide dangers are real risks for motorists.
The Cascades extend northward into Canada and southward to the middle of California. From Canada's Fraser river to central California, the mountains form a barriver to westward-flowing rivers. Only the lower Columbia river, which forms the border betweven Washington and Oregon, reaches the Pacific Ocean. |
Los Angeles travel guide
Los
Angeles
The
City
 Arriing
Information
 City
transport
Public
transportation
Major
bus routes
Cycling
 Eating
Eating
Downtown
West
LA eating
Hollywood
eating
Disneyland
eating
San
Gabriel, San
Fernando eating
Nightlife
Bars,
pubs
More at
Los Angeles travel guide
San Diego travel
guide
San Diego
Getting around and info
Cafes,
restaurants
Nightlife
Anza-Borrego Desert
Balboa Park
Downtown and Coronado
Hillcrest, Ocean Beach, Point Loma
Mission bay, Pacific Beach, Mission
Beach, La Jolla
More at
San Diego travel
guide
Catalina Island Guide |
|
