15 Pacific Northwest Facts: History, Geography, Climate And More

In this article, you are going to travel through the Pacific Northwest, and on the way, discover many facts about its history, geography, climate, and much more.

Did you know that most of the apples that Americans eat are cultivated in the Pacific Northwest? As claimed by Washington State University, an estimated amount of 68% of all the apples in the United States are obtained from Washington.

Northwestern U.S, also known as Pacific Northwest, comprises the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. The western United States region is located in an adjacent way to the Pacific Ocean. First claimed by the British, Spain, Russia, and lastly, by the United States, the Northwest was jointly dominated by the United States and Britain till 1846.

Some parts of Montana, southern Alaska, and northern California are also claimed as portions of the Pacific Northwest to some extent. Sometimes, even Canadian British Columbia comes under the umbrella term. Read further to know more.

History Of Pacific Northwest

Over the past millennia, the Pacific Northwest has been dominated by a diverse range of people. The migration hypothesis on the coastal areas has been reinforced by discoveries such as the reports regarding the Port Eliza Cave, which is situated on Vancouver Island.

It strongly indicates the possibility of a survivable climate that can be traced back to almost 16,000 years ago.

As claimed by some scholars, the Pacific Coast was considered a main coastal migration route by late Pleistocene people who migrated from northeast Asia to America.

Emerging from Paisley Caves located in south-central Oregon, other proofs of human occupation that date back to over 14,500 years ago have surfaced.

Even after such intense research, the migration hypothesis on the coastal areas is still considerably argued upon.

Some of the notable early Russian settlements in the area constitute Unalaska (1774), Kodiak (1791), and Sitka (1804), which makes them one of the oldest permanent non-indigenous settlements found in the Pacific Northwest.

The southeastern part of the U.S. state of Alaska and the Canadian province of British Columbia is situated in the northern part of the area.

It is said that mapmaker David Thompson explored the complete route of the Columbia River, beginning his journey from its northern headwaters towards its mouth.

Some areas had been explored by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis (1804-1806) and by several fur traders and trappers.

In the 1840s, many settlers started arriving at the region through the Oregon Trail.

As Boeing was founded in Seattle, aerospace is said to be a significant industry, and some of its operations are currently carried out in the Seattle area.

Geography And Climate Of Pacific Northwest

Pacific Northwest comprises rural forested land, although several large population groups are found in Portland, Seattle and Tacoma, Vancouver, Washington, and many others.

The Pacific Northwest region, which comprises Oregon, Washington, British Colombia, and Idaho, faces in the direction of the Pacific Ocean. Towards the west coast, the entire region is bordered by the Pacific Ocean.

The variety of individualistic cultures and diverse climates is what makes this place special.

The Pacific Northwest range spans from northern California then heads north through Oregon, Washington, and finally reaches southern British Columbia.

Four mountain ranges dominate the Pacific Northwest: the Olympic Range, Rocky Mountains, Cascade Range, and the Coast Range.

Due to the rain shadow effects of the mountains, the dry land area, which is inland from the Coast Mountains and the Cascade Range, is very dissimilar as compared to the climate and terrain of the coastal area.

The Olympic Mountains are an extension of Washington State, located on the Olympic Peninsula.

The Pacific Northwest consists of the famous Mount Rainier, which is the highest mountain in that area and stands 14,410 ft (4,392 m) tall.

The Columbia River initiates its journey in the Columbia Plateau, which is in western Idaho and swiftly flows towards the Cascades towards the Pacific Ocean and is also claimed to be the second biggest flow of water after the Mississippi River.

Some other noteworthy mountains are Mount Baker, with a height of 10,781 ft (3,286 m), and Mount Shasta, which is 14,163 ft (4,317 m) tall.

The Pacific Northwest comprises a cool and wet climate that has facilitated the growth of extensive forests that feature few of the world's largest trees.

Inland areas experience a climate that can be at times drier with warmer summers and harsh winters.

The coastal forests in this region are considered temperate rainforests. One of the largest and few rainforests in North America is the Hoh Rainforest.

Animals Found In Pacific Northwest

As the Pacific Northwest region has many rainforests, it is claimed that a variety of animals can be found in this region. The Pacific Northwest range comprises many tropical islands, although the northern regions consist of cold waters.

Some of the aquatic species that thrive in this environment consist of various salmon, Pacific halibut, and gold country pollock.

These cold waters are also home to an estimated 13 whale species that are native to the Pacific Northwest.

Apart from marine life, sea otters, California sea lions, and harbor seals have also been spotted.

The islands in this region are heavily wooded and have beautiful settings. Many large mammals like bears, cougars, and wolves reside in these forests.

Varieties of birds, dolphins, seals, and sea turtles have also been spotted as these islands have proved to be a suitable feeding ground for these species.

Apex predators like killer whales or orcas are also found in these areas.

Some of the animals that are in danger of becoming Extinct are blue whales, bluefin tunas, sea otters, and fin whales.

FAQs

Where are Northwest Territories?

The Northwestern Territories are Federal territories located in Canada encompassing forests and tundra.

What states are in the United State's northwest?

The northwestern region comprises the states of Washington, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming.

What U.S. state borders northwest Canada?

Washington, Idaho, and Montana are the U.S. states that border northwestern Canada.

How was slavery mentioned in the Northwest Ordinance?

The 1781 ordinance strictly prohibited involuntary servitude and slavery.