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Pacific Northwest Geographical Features - Brief Mentions

Introduction

The Pacific Northwest is an informal name usually taken to mean Oregon and Washington State, and sometimes also northern and western Idaho and the Canadian province of British Columbia.

This page contains brief definitions of some of the geographical features of the Pacific Northwest.

See also the full index of Pacific Northwest Geographical Features which has links to separate pages describing many other features in detail.

Deception Pass State Park, Washington State

Deception Pass is not a mountain pass. It is a narrow channel of water between two of the San Juan Islands, namely Fidalgo Island (on which the town of Anacortes is located) and Whidbey Island (on which the town of Oak Harbor is located). A most impressive bridge carries Washington State Highway 20 high over the water, north of Oak Harbor. A stop here is well worthwhile. Those with sufficient energy can hike down to the shore and back up again. The view of the bridge from the bottom is definitely worth the climb.

Gulf Islands, British Columbia

The islands in the channel between the Canadian mainland and Vancouver Island, north of the San Juan Islands.

Kitsap Peninsula, Washington State

The peninsula on the eastern side of the Olympic Peninsula. Towns on the Kitsap Peninsula include Bremerton and the historic Port Gamble. The Kitsap Peninsula is linked to Tacoma by the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.