Seattle is one of the largest cities in the Pacific Northwest. It is often considered to be "one of America's livable cities" because it offers the urban feel and occupation opportunity with a very green environment.
The Pacific Northwest has only a few large metropolitan cities, which include Vancouver (Canada), Portland (Oregon), and Seattle (Washington).
The Pacific Northwest is often referred to as "Ecotopia." According to lecture, Ecotopia is characterized by being "coastal, having lofty, snow-capped mountains, attractive cities, migration destination," which means it has raised concerns among locals who worry about overpopulation.
This is true of Seattle. Residents of this gorgeous city have increasing concerns because of traffic. There are more lanes being added to the freeway, but it is difficult because instead of minimizing traffic, it might only add more.
It is difficult to get around Seattle since there are not many highways, and sometime ferries have to be used to get across the water.
As mentioned in previous chapters of this blog, precipitation is not what most people assume for this region. The text explains, "[W]hen precipitation falls, it seldom takes the form of heavy thundershowers; more typical is a gentle, light, frequent rain that feels like a heavy mist. This form of precipitation lessens runoff, normal in heavy rains, and enables vegetation to make maximum use of the moisture" (325).
Another interesting fact is that Oregon and Washington have the lowest peaks in the Coast Ranges.
Vancouver, Portland, and Seattle have large populations with over 1.9 million people (329). These cities all have great harbors.
Seattle, Washington has large industries, one of them is Microsoft. Seattle is also known for the University of Washington, which is a leader in research, particularly in healthcare. Other important sectors include technology and biotechnology.
When I was there, I saw state of the art facilities which specialized in women's health and children's health as well. The city's residents are very friendly, progressive, and active outdoors. Some of the websites I visited proclaimed Seattle as "one of the most healthy and active cities in the nation."
It is also a very highly educated city with an astonishing library. The Seattle Art Museum is also a very beautiful cultural landmark. Moreover, Seattleites have a growing Asian population, and it is the home of the first Starbucks.
Much of the agriculture in the Pacific Northwest is for local consumption, and this is something that Seattle is maintaining as a core value through legislation proposed for this year. Grape production is also high in Oregon and Washington, and these states are known for having great wineries. Dairy products are also significant in the Wilamette valley in Oregon as well as the Puget Sound lowland in Washington.
Fishing is also an important aspect of the region's economy. In Seattle, Pike Place has a wonderful Farmer's Market that sells several varieties of fish. This is a very well-visited tourist attraction for people. I was also told by locals that Seattle hosts a Cheese Festival each year in May. People from all over the world bring their most delectable types of cheese.
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