While Mount St. Helens is Washington’s most infamous volcano due to its relatively recent catastrophic eruption, several other volcanoes within the state’s Cascade Range are active. These volcanoes form the Cascade Volcanic Arc, a segment of the Pacific Ring of Fire that includes more than 160 active volcanoes. Beautiful Mt. Rainier, the highest peak in the Cascade Range, is the most heavily glaciated peak in the lower 48 states and is so prominent on the horizon of the Seattle metropolitan area that residents call it simply “the Mountain.” Mt. Rainier, an active volcano itself, is in fact visible from as far away as British Columbia, Canada on exceptionally clear days.
Important businesses within Washington include the design and manufacture of jet aircraft, computer software development, electronics, biotechnology, aluminum production, lumber and wood products, and tourism. Companies such as Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon.com, and Nintendo call Washington home enjoying the state’s lack of corporate income tax. Ports on Puget Sound serve as vital conduits for trade with Asia.
Roads
Interstate 5: Stretching from the Mexican border in the south to the Canadian border in the north, I-5 and its 1,400 miles are instrumental in providing access to much of America’s Pacific Coast. The 277 miles of I-5 within Washington include passage through Seattle.
Interstate 82: Travelling from Hermiston, Oregon to Ellenburg, Washington, I-82 spends 133 miles in Washington.
Interstate 90: The longest highway in America, I-90 links points from Seattle to Boston. 300 of its 3,100+ miles are within Washington State limits and include a stretch between Spokane and Seattle.