<P> Washington is the 18th largest state , with an area of 71,362 square miles ( 184,827 km ) , and the 13th most populous state , with more than 7.4 million people . Approximately 60 percent of Washington 's residents live in the Seattle metropolitan area , the center of transportation , business , and industry along Puget Sound , an inlet of the Pacific Ocean consisting of numerous islands , deep fjords , and bays carved out by glaciers . The remainder of the state consists of : deep temperate rainforests in the west ; mountain ranges in the west , central , northeast , and far southeast ; and a semi-arid basin region in the east , central , and south , given over to intensive agriculture . Washington is the second most populous state on the West Coast and in the Western United States , after California . Mount Rainier , an active stratovolcano , is the state 's highest elevation , at almost 14,411 feet ( 4,392 m ) , and is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States . </P>
<P> Washington is the 18th largest state , with an area of 71,362 square miles ( 184,827 km ) , and the 13th most populous state , with more than 7.4 million people . Approximately 60 percent of Washington 's residents live in the Seattle metropolitan area , the center of transportation , business , and industry along Puget Sound , an inlet of the Pacific Ocean consisting of numerous islands , deep fjords , and bays carved out by glaciers . The remainder of the state consists of : deep temperate rainforests in the west ; mountain ranges in the west , central , northeast , and far southeast ; and a semi-arid basin region in the east , central , and south , given over to intensive agriculture . Washington is the second most populous state on the West Coast and in the Western United States , after California . Mount Rainier , an active stratovolcano , is the state 's highest elevation , at almost 14,411 feet ( 4,392 m ) , and is the most topographically prominent mountain in the contiguous United States . </P>
how big is washington state in square miles
how big is washington state in square miles
71,362 square miles
71,362 square miles