Eastern Washington
| Eastern Washington | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Coordinates: 47°30′N 119°00′W / 47.5°N 119°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State(s) | Washington |
| Largest city | Spokane |
| Other cities | Tri-Cities, Yakima, Wenatchee, Walla Walla |
| Area | |
| • Total | 46,620 sq mi (120,700 km2) |
| Highest elevation | Mt Adams 12,276 ft (3,741 m) |
| Population (2015) | |
| • Total | 1,564,958 |
| • Density | 32/sq mi (12/km2) |
Eastern Washington is the portion of the US state of Washington east of the Cascade Range. The region contains the city of Spokane (the second largest city in the state), the Tri-Cities, the Columbia River and the Grand Coulee Dam, the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and the fertile farmlands of the Yakima Valley and the Palouse. Unlike in Western Washington, the climate is dry, including some desert environments.
A significant difference between Eastern Washington and the western half of the state is its climate. While the west half of the state is located in a rainy oceanic climate, the eastern half receives little rainfall due to the rainshadow created by the Cascade Mountains. Also, due to being farther from the sea, the east side has both hotter summers and colder winters than the west. Most communities in Eastern Washington, for example, have significant yearly snowfall, while in the west snowfall is minimal and not seen every year. The east and west do still have some climatic traits in common, though: more rainfall in winter than summer, a lack of severe storms, and milder temperature ranges than more inland locations.
There is some variation in both rainfall throughout Eastern Washington. Generally, lower elevations are both hotter and drier than higher elevations. This is easily seen in the comparison between low-elevation Richland with higher elevation Spokane.
Other terms used for Eastern Washington or large parts of it include:
The following cities and towns in Eastern Washington have over 10,000 inhabitants.
Eastern Washington is composed of Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima Counties.
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