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Begin your virtual tour of Washington State by clicking on any of the above entry points,
and follow roads or trails through a network of linked images.
Forested mountains, soaked in rain and mist, dropping into the Pacific Ocean typify the coastal areas of Washington. As much as 140 inches of rain fall annually in some areas. In the northern areas, the coastline is broken by a complicated system of sounds, bays, inlets, islands and lakes. The Puget Sound lies a hundred miles inland from the outer coast. In the temperate climates along the Puget Sound lie the populated areas of Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia. The volcanic Cascade Mountains rise further east, with towering peaks such as Mt. Baker, Mt. Rainier and Mt. Saint Helens. Sagebrush-covered hills with drier climates cover many eastern parts of the state.
Washington became the 42nd state of the union on November 11, 1889. It covers 68,192 square miles and is home to 5,894,121 people. Three National Parks are found in Washington, Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park and Olympic National Park.
| Motto: | Alki (Indian word meaning "bye and bye") |
| State Bird: | American Goldfinch |
| State Flower: | Coast Rhododendron |
| State Tree: | Western Hemlock |
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