According to Abbreviationfinder, with population of 7,614,893, Washington is the 13th largest state among U.S. 50 states, and WA is the two letter abbreviation for Washington. Here, we provide a list of major rivers and mountains in the state of Washington.
Rivers in the state of Washington
Cowlitz River
The Cowlitz River has a length of approx. 170 km and is a tributary of the Columbia River. The river originates in Mt. Rainier National Park and flows into the Columbia River near the city of Longview. The river is particularly interesting because of the generation of energy. There are three major and several small dams that use the river to generate energy.
Okanogan River
The Okanogan River is a tributary of the Columbia River and has a length of approx. 315 km. The Okanogan River originates from Okanogan Lake in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The Okanogan River is also used to generate energy in the state of Washington. The Wells Dam and the Chief Joseph Dam should be mentioned here. The latter is named after the chief of the Nez Percé Indians and forms Rufus Woods Lake.
Skagit River
The Skagit River is approximately 240 km of river in northwest Washington. However, the Skagit River originates in the Canadian province of British Columbia, in the so-called Cascade Mountains. The Skagit River is also used intensively for energy generation. The Skagit River Hydroelectric Project built 3 dams in 1924. These are particularly used to power the city of Seattle. The largest lake formed by a dam is Ross Lake. The Skagit River flows into the Puget Sound at Mount Vernon and thus into the Pacific Ocean.
Snake River
The Snake River is also known as the Shoshone River and has a length of approximately 1,674 km. It is a tributary of the Columbia River and flows through the states of Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The source of the river is in Yellowstone National Park and from there the river also flows through the Grand Teton National Park. The Snake River flows into the Columbia River near the city of Pasco in Washington State. The Snake River flows through numerous deep canyons and forms many waterfalls, such as the approx. 70 m high Shoshone Falls in Oregon.
Spokane River
The Spokane River is an approx. 180 km long tributary of the Columbia River. The Spokane River flows in the states of Idaho and Washington. Its source is in Idaho. More specifically, the Spokane River originates from Lake Coeur d’Alene. From there it flows west towards the city of Spokane in Washington. In the city it forms the Spokane Falls. From there it flows further west and flows into Miles into Roosevelt Lake and thus into the Columbia River.
Yakima River
The Yakima River is an approx. 345 km long tributary of the Columbia River. The Yakima River originates from Keechelus Lake in southwest Washington. From there, the Yakima River flows southeast through the cities of Ellensburg and Richland. At Richland, the Yakima River flows into the Columbia River. The river is named after the Yakima people.
- COUNTRYAAH: Alphabetical list of all cities, towns and villages in Washington, including biggest cities by population and capital city in the state of Washington.
Mountains in Washington State
Mount Olympus
Mount Olympus has a height of approx. 2,432 m and is located in the western part of the state on the Olympic Peninsula in the Olympic Mountains. The mountain’s name comes from the English explorer John Meares, who “baptized” Olympis. Mount Olympus was first climbed by LA Nelson in 1907.
Glacier Peak
The mountain Glacier Peak has a height of approx. 3,213 m and is therefore the fourth highest mountain in Washington. Glacier Peak is located in northern Washington in the Cascade Range. Glacier Peak is an active stratovolcano, the last eruption of which must have occurred in the 17th or 18th century. Due to its location and height, the Glacier Peak can be recognized by the larger cities on the Puget Sound without the local population being aware of the danger of this volcano. The name Glacier Peak means something like glacier peaks. This name comes from the fact that there are 11 glaciers in the summit area of Glacier Peak. Glacier Peak was climbed for the first time in 1898 by Thomas Gerdine.
Mount Adams
Mount Adams has a height of approx. 3,742 m and is therefore the second highest mountain in the state of Washington after Mount Rainier. Mount Adams is located in southwest Washington approximately 50 km east of Mount St. Helens in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Mount Adams is a stratovolcano and most recently erupted 1000 years ago. Mount Adams was climbed for the first time in 1854 by AG Aiken Gerdine.
Mount Baker
Mount Baker is approximately 3,285 m high and is located in the northwest of Washington near the border with Canada. Mount Baker is a stratovolcano and belongs to the cascade chain. The last eruption of Mount Baker was in the 19th century. The mountain is heavily covered by glaciers, only Mount Rainier has more glaciers. Mount Baker was climbed for the first time in 1868 by Edmund Coleman. Nowadays, Mount Baker is a popular place for climbers. Hiking and skiing are also very possible here.
Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens is approx. 2,549 m high and is located in the southwest of Washington. It is not the highest mountain in Washington but the most famous. The active stratovolcano last erupted in 1980. To date, this is the best documented volcanic eruption ever. Even before the eruption, the increased activity of the volcano was announced by several earthquakes. Due to the eruption, the entire northern summit broke off and slid down. Before the eruption, Mount St. Helens was still 2,950 m high, so it lost a good 400 height. 57 died in the eruption and the cloud of smoke from the volcanic eruption rose to a height of 18 km. As a result, the ash came around the earth in just over 2 weeks due to the winds. Since then, a new dome has formed in the eruption crater and several small eruptions since 1980 confirm the volcano’s activity. The area around Mount St. Helens was devastated by the eruption, but it is recovering and is now known as the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Mount St. Helens was climbed for the first time in 1853 by Thomas J. Dryer.
Mount Rainier
Mount Rainier has a height of approx. 4,392 m and is the highest mountain in Washington. Mount Rainier is in the cascade chain in western Washington State. Mount Rainier is a stratovolcano between 500,000 and 1 million years old. The last eruption of Mount Rainier probably took place in the middle of the 19th century. An eruption is not imminent at the moment, but the volcano is still active and will erupt again. Due to its height, there are several glaciers on the summit of Mount Rainier, even most of the glaciers on all mountains in Washington. Mount Rainier National Park is located around Mount Rainier. Mount Rainier was climbed for the first time in 1870 by Hazard Steven and PB Van Trump.
Washington State Lakes and Reservoirs
Banks Lake
Banks Lake in northeastern Washington State is a reservoir with an area of approximately 109 km². The lake was created in 1949 by the Dry Falls Dam and North Dam. Banks Lake is located directly behind Roosevelt Lake with which it almost meets in the city of Grand Coullee.
Lake Chelan
Lake Chelan in the north of Washington covers an area of approximately 135 km². Lake Chelan is the largest natural lake in the state of Washington. The name of the lake comes from the language of the Salishindians and means something like “deep water”. This is not surprising because Lake Chelan is the third deepest lake in the United States. Its maximum depth is 453 m. Lake Chelan State Park is located on the southern shore of Lake Chelan and the northern area of the lake has been protected by the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area since 1968.
Lake Roosevelt
Lake Roosevelt, actually Franklin Delano Roosevelt Lake, is located in northeast Washington and is the largest lake in Washington with an area of 320 km². Lake Roosevelt has been created since 1942 when the Columbia River was dammed by the Grand Coulee Dam. This dam is one of the largest concrete structures in the world and is one of the largest energy producers in the United States. Lake Roosevelt stretches from the city of Grand Coulee to the Canadian borders. Around the lake is the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.
Lake Washington
Lake Washington, which is located in the west of Washington near Seattle and Bellevue, covers an area of approximately 88 km². Lake Washington is the second largest natural lake in the state. The lake is named after George Washington. The lake is fed by the two rivers Sammamish River and Cedar River.
Ross Lake
The Ross Lake Reservoir is located in the north of Washington and extends north across the Canadian border to the Canadian province of British Columbia. Ross Lake has been created since 1949 when the Skagit River is dammed by the Ross Dam. Much of the lake and the surrounding landscape is protected by the Ross Lake National Recreation Area.