Chapter 3 -West Versus East
Chapter 3 -West Versus East
The Cascade Mountains divide Washingtoninto two very different environments. A mild,moist climate and dense forests dominate theregion west of the mountains. To the east,however, the climate is dry and hot. There islittle vegetation other than sparse trees,sagebrush, and grasses. Because of the CascadeMountains, Washington has two environmentsas different as night and day.
As you might have guessed, western
Washington includes all areas west of theCascade Mountains. Frequent rains andmountain snowfall provide this region with anabundance of water. The rain and melted snowflow from the mountains into westernWashington’s many lakes and rivers. Thismoisture allows many types of trees and plantsto thrive in this mild, moist climate. Thus, our
state is nicknamed, “The Evergreen State.”
NW NE
SW SE
In contrast, the climate in eastern Washingtonis much more harsh and dry. Only scatteredtrees and vast areas of sagebrush and grassthrive here. These types of vegetation do not
require regular moisture. Of course irrigationhas made it possible for other plants and crops togrow in eastern Washington. Physical formationsof granite and basalt also dominate the region.
These features and climate have combined tocreate a hostile environment.To develop a better understanding of eachregion, we will discuss the physical features,climate, and vegetation of each in more detail.
Western Washington
Western Washington includes all areas west
of the CascadeMountain crest to the PacificOcean.
Physical Features
A great variety of physical features exist in
western Washington. Our shoreline is irregularwith numerous harbors and bays. WillapaBay,Grays Harbor, HoodCanal, and Puget Soundare some of the more well-known.
In addition to the many harbors and bays,
western Washington has numerous lakes andrivers. The lakes in this region are fed yearroundby high levels of precipitation and meltingsnow. Rivers and streams also receive much oftheir water in this fashion.
Rivers in western Washington can floodduring times of heavy rains and warmer wintertemperatures. Flooding usually happens duringthe rainy season. Floods often destroy propertyand harm communities. Although oftendangerous, floods play an important role in therenourishment of floodplains.
Mountains are easily-spotted physical
features in western Washington. The majoruplands include the Willapa Hills, the OlympicMountains, and the Cascade range and its majorvolcanoes. Some volcanic peaks can rise morethan 6,000 feet higher than the highest peaks ofthe Cascade Mountains.
When the ice from the last ice age began to
melt, the ocean rose and flooded westernWashington. The flood covered the lowlands.
This left many peninsulas and islands. The twolargest peninsulas in western Washington arethe Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas. Islands alsodot the waterways of western Washington. TheSan Juans, Bainbridge, Vashon, and Whidbeyare some of the many popular islands in thisregion.
Climate
There are two climates within the western
Washington region. They are the west coastmarine and the highland climates. The dominantclimate of the lowlands is west coast marine.
This climate has frequent rainfall throughoutmost of the year. Rainfall usually declines duringthe summer. Summer temperatures are mildwith limited humidity. Winter temperaturesremain unusually mild given our northernlatitude. This is because of our location next tothe Pacific Ocean. The ocean affects our climateby keeping the temperature more constant.
In contrast, the mountains of western
Washington have a highland climate. These areas
of western Washington have short, cool, andrainy summers. The winters are long, cold, andreceive much more snowfall than the lowlands.
The moderate temperatures and abundantmoisture in western Washington support densevegetation. Evergreen forests and deciduoustrees cover the landscape like a thick, greencarpet. The highest mountain peaks have little orno vegetation growing on their slopes. In contrast,the lowlands have roads, farms, and cities carvedfrom theorest. As the region has grown, peoplehave removed more of our forests.
Vegetation
A mild and wet climate allows dense standsof vegetation to grow in western Washington.The thick canopy of evergreen trees providesshade for the plants on the forest floor. Hemlock,cedar, spruce, alder, and maple trees providehabitats for animals and other plants in ourforests. Without a doubt, the vegetation inwestern Washington is very unique!
The abundant moisture and the shade of thecanopy allow only certain types of plants togrow. Rhododendrons, azaleas, ferns, andmosses all grow well in this climate. Mushroomsalso thrive in the shaded environment. Some ofthe finest mushrooms in the world grow on ourforest floors. Before you ever pick or eat amushroom, make sure it is not poisonous.
Other areas of the forest have been cleared
by logging or fire. Alder, ash, and maple treesgrow well in the forest clearings. River valleyswhere sunlight is common also make good homesfor these trees. The river valleys and flood plainsare great locations for farms. Farmers can groweverything from flower bulbs to cranberries.
Subregions
Western Washington may be divided intothree subregions. Each subregion has its ownunique physical features, climate, and vegetation.
How do these regions differ from one another?
Coastal Subregion
The coastal subregion is a beautiful area of
Washington. Mountains, bays, peninsulas, andeven a rain forest are found here. This area has avery moderate climate with dense vegetation.People live in small communities and depend on
the natural resources of this region.
Physical Features
Coastal mountains rise throughout the long,narrow coastal subregion. The Olympics are thisregion’s most notable mountains. These ruggedmountains rise nearly 8,000 feet above the Pacific.
Glaciers can be found on the higher peaks. Themountainous terrain is also home to many alpinelakes. The rugged terrain makes these smalllakes difficult to access.
Precipitation and melting snow providewater for many short rivers. They flow into thePacific and its many bays and harbors. WillapaBay and Grays Harbor are just two of the largestin the subregion. The largest river in Washington,the Columbia, forms the southern boundary ofthe coastal subregion.
Climate
The coastal subregion has only two climates.These climates are the west coast marine and thehighland climates. The higher elevations in theOlympic Mountains have a highland climate.
Rain and snow fall much of the year. In some ofthe higher, shaded elevations, glaciers slowlymove down the steep mountain slopes.
The lower elevations of the coastal subregionare subjected to the west coast marine climate.The abundant moisture and mildtemperaturesare perfect for the dense vegetation that growshere. In fact, the only temperate rain forest in thelower 48 states is located here! The Hoh rainforest is a beautiful place to visit. There you cansee trees more than 500 years old.
Vegetation
Dense stands of trees cover much of this
coastal subregion. Hemlock, cedar, and spruceprovide a thick evergreen canopy. This canopyallows little sunlight to reach the forestfloor. Moss, ferns, nettles, lupines, lichens,rhododendrons, and thousands of other plantsthrive in the shaded areas.
Giant trees such as Sitka spruce, hemlock,
and western red cedar have fallen and crisscross
the forest floor. These fallen giants allow light tobathe the forest floor where they once stood. Thelight and nutrients from the decomposing woodallow a variety of new plants to thrive in thevacant area. The seedlings of the cedar andspruce grow quickly reaching for the light withthe hope that someday they will be a giant.
However, people have invaded this pristine
region of our state to harvest the timber from the
forest. Loggers clear-cut giant cedar and sprucetrees and left only the hemlocks. Hemlocks thrive
in the shade of the forest. Exposed to the sunlight,
seedlings grow quickly. The hemlocks remain as
proud reminders of the original forest thatthrived in this region for centuries.
New plants and vegetation eventuallyreplaced the natural forest. Alder trees, whichonce lived only along the beaches, spread inland.Raspberries and blackberries, in a bath of light,
spread in every direction. Eventually the loggersrealized that the hemlock was valuable not forits wood, but instead for its sap. The large giants’sap provides rayon for plastics. Hemlocks, thelast trees remaining, were cut as fast as the othertrees in our forest.
Fortunately the hemlock, spruce, and cedar
can thrive in the protected areas of our national
parks and wilderness areas. Hopefully, plant
and animal habitats will be restored as they were
just 100 years ago.
Western Lowlands Subregion
The western lowlands subregion is clearly
one of the most beautiful and diverse regions inour state. The lowlands have numerous hills,streams, rivers, lakes, and much more to offer.
The weather is mild in both the summer and
winter months. Moisture keeps the trees, grasses,
and other plants green year-round.
Physical Features
The western lowlands is a complex area dueto the erosion from glaciers and water. Its most
important physical feature is Puget Sound. Thiswaterway extends south from Everett toOlympia. Puget Sound, HoodCanal, and theStrait of Juan de Fuca form the major inlandwaterways of western Washington.
Long ago, as the glaciers melted and retreatednorth, rising sea level flooded the interior
lowlands of western Washington. The watercovered all the land except only the highestportions of the hills and mountains. These
uncovered pieces of land became the islands and
peninsulas in western Washington.
The Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas, and
Whidbey, Bainbridge, Vashon, Mercer and the
San Juan islands are important physical features
in the western lowlands. The protectedwaterways provide excellent ports and shippinglanes. Ocean-going vessels can travel into thelowland region and safely off-load their cargo.
Rivers and streams also flow from the nearbyCascade and Olympics mountains into the
lowlands. From the Columbia in the south to the
Nooksack north of Bellingham, there arehundreds of rivers in this region. These riversare fed by heavy rainfall and melted snow. Theyfrequently flood and deposit their fertile silt onthe floodplains.
Climate
The western lowlands has only one type of
climate, the west coast marine. This subregionreceives plenty of rainfall and an occasionalsnowfall each year. Most areas receive 40 to 60
inches of precipitation each year.
The Pacific Ocean maintains the mildtemperatures. They tend to be mild throughoutthe year. Summers are very comfortable becauseof the mild temperatures and infrequent rain.Temperatures occasionally reach the upper 80sand low 90s, but normally they range from 65 to
85 degrees.
Winter weather is also mild but very wet.
The lowlands receive most of its rain in thewinter months and early spring. Temperaturesare comfortable because of the influence of thePacific. Winter temperatures are rarely extreme,or below zero, for long periods. An occasionalstorm, blowing in from the north Pacific, maybring snow and subfreezing temperatures to thelowlands. When these storms hit, they rarely lastmore than three to five days.
Vegetation
The natural vegetation in the westernlowlands is mainly made up of conifer anddeciduous forests. These thick forests aredifferent from those of the coast. The conifers inthis region, in contrast, are smaller than theircousins in the Olympics. Douglas fir, westernred cedar, western hemlock, and Sitka spruce allgrow in the western lowlands subregion.
Deciduous trees also grow well in the mildand wet climate. Alder, maple, and oak trees linethe banks of the rivers and grow around theflood plains. Other plants and shrubs grow quitewell in the forest. Rhododendrons, lupine,azaleas, ferns, and berries are common in thelowlands.However, human activity has greatlychanged the natural vegetation. People havecleared the forests for roads, communities, andfactories. Domesticated plants and trees havereplaced some of the original vegetation of thelowlands.
Western Cascades Subregion
The Cascade subregion of westernWashington is located west of the CascadeMountain crest. This region includes the western
slopes, or windward side, of the Cascades from
Canada to the Columbia River.
Physical Features
The most obvious feature of the western
Cascades subregion is the Cascade Mountains.
The Cascades extend more than 600 miles from
British Columbia, Canada to northern California.
Glaciers and deep snow dominate the ruggednorth Cascades. Mount Baker is the only majorvolcanic peak in this area. However, the NorthCascades have hundreds of jagged granite spiresjutting skyward.
As you travel south through the subregion,
the mountains become less dominant in heightbut are still very beautiful. Volcanic peaks nowdominate the mountain skyline. Two majorvolcanoes, Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens,
are in this region. Mt.Rainier, the tallest peak, is
14,411 feet tall. It stands more than 6,000 feet
higher than any of the surrounding mountains.
The subregion is also home to many alpinelakes, streams, and rivers. The water flowinginto them once fell as either rain or snow. Themelting snow and running rain water collect inthe valleys and continues its journey to the ocean.
Climate
The western slope of the CascadeMountainshas a highland climate above 3,000 feet. Thelower elevation has a west coast marine climate.The highland climate can change very quickly.As storms push in from the Pacific, thick clouds
form and release heavy rain or snow.
The windward location of the western
Cascade subregion causes heavy precipitation.
The heaviest precipitation, both rainfall and
snowfall, occurs from early October to late April.
Annual snow pack can be as much as 30 to 90 feet
in places.
Vegetation
Evergreen forests blanket the western slopesof the western Cascade subregion. The higherelevations are usually void of trees. Only shrubs,low lying plants, and mosses can survive thecooler temperatures and heavy snows. The
warmth of late spring and early summer bringsa variety of alpine flowers and grasses into bloom.
The area above where trees can grow is knownas the tree line. You can see the natural tree lineon many of the higher peaks in the Cascades.
Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington is the second major
geographical region in our state. This large region
includes all the land east of the CascadeMountain
crest to the Idaho and Oregon borders. Theregion of eastern Washington is very differentfrom the western Washington region.
Eastern Washington has less precipitation,
extreme temperatures, and very few trees.Grasses and sagebrush cover much of the area.The drier climate is a direct result of therainshadow effect. Please review page 29 if youwould like to learn more about this climaticfeature.
Physical Features
Many unique physical features are found
within the eastern Washington region. Thesefeatures include the eastern Cascades, theOkanoganHighlands, the Rockies, and the Blue
Mountains. The rolling hills of the Palouse andthe Columbia Plateau are other impressivelandforms. Fire and ice helped to form thesephysical features.
Although the climate is very dry throughoutthe year, the region has several major rivers andlakes. Lake Chelan, MosesLake, the Potholes,and Franklin D. Roosevelt Lakeare large andpopular freshwater lakes. There are also manyalpine and glacial lakes in the mountain areas.
Two volcanic peaks dominate the eastern
Cascade Mountains. One, Glacier Peak, is rarely
seen unless you are at a high vantage point. Ittowers above the North Cascades in easternWashington. MountAdamsin southernWashington is the last of the major volcanicpeaks in our state.
The winter snow melt of the Cascade, Rocky,and Blue mountains fills the many rivers in theregion. The Columbia River is the main riverthat flows through eastern Washington. The
Columbia starts its journey to the Pacific Oceanin British Columbia, Canada. Every other majorriver in eastern Washington is a tributary of theColumbia. A tributary is a river that flows intoa larger river before reaching the ocean. Thetributaries also carve the region’s numerous rivervalleys.
Climate
The eastern Washington region has only twomajor types of climate; semiarid and highland.
The region does not receive much precipitation.
The Cascades prevent the moisture from reaching
the region. The surrounding mountains severelyreduce the amount of moisture the regionreceives. The eastern slope of the Cascadesreceives no more than 15 to 30 inches of moistureeach year. It continues to decline the farther eastyou travel until you reach the foothills of theRocky Mountains.