Northwest Area Facts

• Population about 12 million
• 43 federally recognized Tribes
• Hydropower provides about two-thirds of electricity supply
• 78 federally listed threatened and endangered species
• 12 active or potentially active volcanoes
• Columbia River system drains more than 260,000 square miles, an area about the size of Texas
• More than 175 square miles covered by glaciers
• More than 900 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline
• More than 2,300 miles of greater Puget Sound coastline
• Some forests store more carbon per unit area than any other area in the world, including the tropics
• 51 percent federal lands
• Significant lead, zinc, silver, and phosphate deposits

First posted August 25, 2010