Georgraphic Background of History

The different environments impact the way of life for every species. Charles Darwin makes note in his Origin of Species that the Galapagos finches he found had different characteristics depending on the area that they lived in and food that was available. Humans are also highly affected by the surrounding physical environment. Just as the geography of each Greek polis shaped the way of life there, the region of Western Washington affects my hometown of Federal Way. The topography, climate, water resources, and natural resources all are elements that shape the history of my homeland.
Every region has its own set of characteristics in its topography that sets it apart from other regions. Washington State as a whole has a wide variety of environments. The rough Cascade Mountains serve as a divider between Western and Eastern Washington. Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier are included in this region. The Puget Sound is a large bay of Washington that is located west o the Cascade Mountains. Most of the major cities are located near the Puget Sound, which connects to the Pacific Ocean. The San Juan Islands take up the northern part of the Puget Sound. The Olympic Mountains are located west of the Puget Sound and east of the Pacific Ocean. Western Washington is a very mountainous region.
Just as the Cascade Mountains divide Washington in half topographically, the climate is affected too. The climate is considerably wetter towards the west than the east. It rains a lot in Western Washington because the water from the Pacific Ocean makes its way over the Olympic Mountains. The rain is also very scattered, but usually there are three months of sunshine and nine months of rain. The temperature is mild, and the air is humid.
Washington has a plethora of water resources since it is a Pacific Coastal state. However, some may even say that the Puget Sound is also an additional coast because that general region is densely populated. The major cities such as