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As part of the vast Oregon Country,
Washington territory was visited by Spanish,
American, and British explorers—Bruno Heceta for
Spain in 1775, the American Capt. Robert Gray in
1792, and Capt. George Vancouver for Britain in
1792–1794. Lewis and Clark explored the Columbia
River region and coastal areas for the U.S. in
1805–1806. Rival American
and British settlers and conflicting territorial
claims threatened war in the early 1840s. However,
in 1846 the Oregon Treaty set the boundary at the
49th parallel and war was averted.
Washington is a leading lumber
producer. Its rugged surface is rich in stands of
Douglas fir, hemlock, ponderosa and white pine,
spruce, larch, and cedar. The state holds first
place in apples, lentils, dry edible peas, hops,
pears, red raspberries, spearmint oil, and sweet
cherries, and ranks high in apricots, asparagus,
grapes, peppermint oil, and potatoes. Livestock and
livestock products make important contributions to
total farm revenue and the commercial fishing catch
of salmon, halibut, and bottomfish makes a
significant contribution to the state's economy.
Manufacturing industries in
Washington include aircraft and missiles,
shipbuilding and other transportation equipment,
lumber, food processing, metals and metal products,
chemicals, and machinery.
Washington has over 1,000 dams,
including the Grand Coulee, built for a variety of
purposes including irrigation, power, flood control,
and water storage.
Among the major points of
interest: Mt. Rainier, Olympic, and North Cascades
National Parks. Mount St. Helens, a peak in the
Cascade Range, erupted in May 1980. Also of interest
are Whitman Mission and Fort Vancouver National
Historic Sites; and the Pacific Science Center and
the Space Needle, in Seattle. |
