1. Ring of Fire: 10 volcanoes—including Mount St. Helens—line the state.
2. Ice Age: With more than 3,000 glaciers, Washington is the most glaciated state in the U.S.
3. Great Heights: The majestic, 14,410-foot-tall Mount Rainier is the highest point in the state.
4. Bottom Dweller: Lake Chelan’s surface is 1,000 feet above sea level; its bottom is nearly 400 feet below sea level.
5. Sweet Stuff: Washington produces more apples than any other state in the union. We’re also first in the country for pear, red raspberry, spearmint oil and sweet cherry production. Read Where to Buy Fresh Produce in Washington.
6. Island Style: At low tide, the San Juan Islands can feature as many as 450 islands, although not all are big enough to inhabit.
7. Ferried Away: Many of Washington’s islands are accessed by the largest ferry system in the world.
8. Rain Forest: The Olympic Peninsula is home to the only temperate rain forests in the continental United States.
9. Shores Galore: The state has 157 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline. Read Beach Towns of Washington State.
10. Run Free: Up to 12,000 wild horses roam the Yakima Indian Reservation. Learn more about Washington’s American Indian Heritage Sites and Museums.
11. Grand Dam: There are 1,000-plus dams in the state. Washington’s Grand Coulee Dam is the largest in the United States.
12. Going Deep: Hells Canyon is the deepest gorge in North America at 8,000 feet.
13. Legendary Explorations: The Lewis and Clark expedition entered the state on October 10, 1805. Drive the Lewis and Clark Highway.
14. Grape Escapes: Washington is the nation’s No. 2 premium wine-producing region.
15. Waterfall Wonder: Snoqualmie Falls is 100 feet higher than New York’s Niagara Falls. Read 7 Waterfalls in Washington State.
16. Sand Spit: The native (and tasty) Dungeness crab gets its name from the longest natural sand spit in the country: 5.5-mile-long Dungeness Spit.
17. Hoppy Days: 77-plus percent of the U.S.’s hops are grown in Yakima Valley.
18. Great Lengths: Long Beach Peninsula is the longest contiguous beach in the United States. Read Water Walks Along Washington Beaches.
19. Wild West: Cape Alava in Olympic National Park is the westernmost point in the continental U.S.
Photo Credit: Long Beach Peninsula/Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau
