School of Marine Affairs: The Region
Located in Seattle, Washington, the University of Washington School of Marine Affairs is in the heart of one of the most dynamic and vibrant regions in America.
The city of Seattle has a population of over one-half million people and is situated between Lake Washington and Puget Sound, a large inland sea with hundreds of islands connected to the Pacific Ocean by the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Greater Seattle has a population of more than a million, making it the largest urban complex north of San Francisco and west of Minneapolis.
Temperatures seldom fall below freezing. Snowfall is infrequent and light in the city, but frequent and heavy in the Mt. Rainier and Drumheller Fountain looking down Rainier Vista. Parts of the graduate library and the administration building are visible left and right, respectfully. mountains from November to April. The average rainfall of 85 cm (less than for most of the country east of the Mississippi River) falls mostly during the winter months. Summers are usually dry and sunny, the humidity is very low, and the temperature ranges from the low 70s to the upper 80s. In short, the summers are glorious!
Several recent national surveys have listed Seattle as one of the most liveable cities in this country. The variety of outdoor activities convenient to the city is unsurpassed. Hiking and mountain/rock climbing are popular outdoor activities. The rugged Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges provide miles of trails and hundreds of peaks for enthusiasts. In addition to Mt. Rainier, nearby volcanic summits include Mt. Baker, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and Glacier Peak.
On the slopes of the Cascade mountains (sixty minutes to three hours by car from Seattle) are seven major ski areas, with an eighth in the Olympics that takes a little longer to reach.
On the western side of the Olympic Peninsula are the famous rain forests (annual rainfall up to 700 cm). Many of the headlands and beaches there are accessible only by foot.
Seattle has resident opera and ballet companies as well as a symphony orchestra and the Philadelphia String Quartet. There are nearly a dozen repertory stages in the larger metropolitan area and Seattle hosts an international film festival every spring. The city is home to major athletic franchises such as the Mariners, Sonics, and Seahawks and year-round activities are scheduled at the Seattle Center, site of the 1962 World's Fair.
Regional Links
- UW Visitor's Information
- Olympic Park Institute
- Seattle Activities
- Victoria, British Columbia
- Northwest Maritime Center on Port Townsend Bay
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UW School of Marine Affairs 3707 Brooklyn Ave. NE Seattle, WA 98105-6715 uwsma@u.washington.edu |