Washington ACLS Certification and Recertification

WASHINGTON ACLS CERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION

About Washington

Washington became the 42nd state in 1889. The state capitol of Washington is Olympia with a population of 42,514 people (2000 Census). Seattle is the largest city in the state, with 573,911 people (2005 Census). The total population of Washington is 6,724,540 people (2010 Census). Washington is comprised of 66,544 square miles of Olympic Mountains in the northwest, flatland and lowlands from the coast to the midsection, highlands in the northeast, and mountains in the southeast. The state flower is the coast rhododendron. The state bird is the willow goldfinch. The state insect of Washington is the blue darner dragonfly.

Washington was originally part of the Oregon territory, and was visited by explorers from Spain, America, and Britain in the late eighteenth century. In 1805-06, Lewis and Clark explored the areas surrounding the Columbia River and coastal areas. Conflict broke out in the 1840’s between the British and American settlers, and after many threats of war, in 1846, the Oregon Treaty was signed and war was averted. Washington’s rich ground is known for its excellent growing capacity for Douglas fir, white pine, spruce, ponderosa, hemlock, cedar, and other trees.

Lumber production in the state is among the leading in the United States. Washington holds the lead for the production of apples, beans, pears, hops, lentils, raspberries, cherries, and spearmint oil. Fishing for salmon, bottomfish and halibut are also heavy income producers. Washington is also known for its ingenuity in building dams for various purposes. There are currently over 1,000 dams in the state including the Grand Coulee which is 550 feet high and 4,173 feet long. The Grand Coulee has become a popular site for tourist visits.

Tourism is very popular in Washington. Mt. Rainier and Mt. Olympic are both very popular destinations. The national parks in the area are also popular throughout the year. One iconic tourist site is Mount St. Helens, an active volcano which last erupted mere years ago in 1980. Prominent historical figures and famous people from Washington include Bob Barker, Ray Charles, Judy Collins, Bing Crosby, Bill Gates, Jimi Hendrix, Quincy Jones, Francis Scobee, Hillary Swank, Adam West, and others.