Puget Sound
From Freepedia
Puget Sound is an arm (sound) of the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It extends 144 km (90 miles) south from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Olympia, Washington. The surrounding area, which includes four of the six largest cities in Washington state (Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, and Bellevue), is home to about 4 million people.
Contents |
History
The Native American name for the Puget Sound in the Lushootseed language, used by the regional Native Americans tribes, is "Whulge". Its current name was given by George Vancouver for Lieutenant Peter Puget, who explored its southern end in May 1792. Vancouver claimed it for Great Britain on June 4, 1792. It became part of the Oregon Country, and became U.S. territory when the 1846 Oregon Treaty was signed.
Due to the migration along the Oregon Trail, many settlers wandered north to what is now Washington State and settled the Puget Sound area. The first settlement was New Market (now known as Tumwater) in 1846. In 1853 the Northern Pacific railroad line reached Puget Sound, linking the region to the other states. During that same year Washington Territory was formed from part of Oregon Territory.
For a long period Tacoma was noted for its large smelters where gold, silver, copper and lead ores were treated. Seattle was the primary port for trade with Alaska and the rest of the country and for a time possessed a large ship-building industry. The region around eastern Puget Sound developed heavy industry during the period including World War I and World War II and the Boeing company became an established icon in the area.
During World War II the Puget Sound area became a focus for war industries with the Boeing Company producing many of the nation's heavy bombers and ports in Seattle, Bremerton and Tacoma available for the manufacturing of ships for the war effort.
Geology
The United States Geological Survey defines Puget Sound as a bay with numerous channels and branches. The Puget Sound is a large salt water estuary fed by freshwater from the Olympic and Cascade Mountain watersheds. It extends 144 km (90 miles) south from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Olympia, Washington; the northern boundary is formed, at its main entrance, by a line between Point Wilson on the Olympic Peninsula and Point Partridge on Whidbey Island; at a second entrance called Deception Pass, between West Point on Whidbey Island, Deception Island, and Rosario Head on Fidalgo Island; at a third entrance, the south end of Swinomish Channel between Fidalgo Island and McGlinn Island.[1] These islands are part of a group of islands known as the San Juan Islands. A unique state-run ferry system, the Washington State Ferries, connects the larger islands to the Washington mainland, as well as both sides of the sound, allowing cars and people to move about the region.
Environment
Main article: Puget Sound environmental issues
Geography
The urban region of the same name is centered around Seattle, Washington and consists of nine counties, two urban center cities and four satellite cities. Both urban core cities have large industrial areas and seaports plus a high-rise central business district. The satellite cities are primarily suburban, featuring a small downtown core and a small industrial area or port. The suburbs consist mostly of residences, strip malls, and shopping centers. The region is also home to numerous of ports. The two largest and busiest are the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma, which if combined will be the second largest container port in North America after Los Angeles\Long Beach. The Port of Vancouver, the largest Canadian port, sits on the northern end of the Greater Puget Sound Area.
Counties
- Island County
- Jefferson County
- King County
- Kitsap County
- Mason County
- Pierce County
- Skagit County
- Snohomish County
- Thurston County
In addition, the San Juan Islands (all of San Juan County plus a few islands belonging to Whatcom County) are often considered part of the greater Puget Sound area.
Prominent islands
- Anderson Island
- Bainbridge Island
- Blake Island
- Camano Island
- Fidalgo Island
- Fox Island
- Hartstene Island
- Indian Island
- Marrowstone Island
- Maury Island
- McNeil Island
- Squaxin Island
- Whidbey Island
- Vashon Island
