Olympia : Washington

The capital of Washington, Olympia is steeped in history and natural beauty. It serves as the gateway to Olympic National Park and headquarters for the Olympic National Forest. Spectacular view of the Olympic National Park along with beautiful parks, streets dotted with trees and shrubs and overall a good quality of life attracts visitors and residents alike.

Olympia sits atop a low flat land at the southern end of Puget Sound on the shores of Budd Inlet's two bays. It is bordered by Seattle and the Olympic Mountains to the north, Mt. Rainier to the northeast, and Mt. Saint Helens to the south. The city is further divided by Capitol Lake.

The city has a typical Pacific Northwest climate with pleasant summers and over-cast winters. The Japanese trade current modifies the mild northwest climate. The average annual precipitation of Olympia is about 50.59 inches. 

Area: 18.52 square miles (2000)

Elevation: 221 feet above sea level

Latitude: 47.04 N,

Longitude: 122.89 W

Average Temperatures: January, 37.9° F; July, 63.2° F; annual average, 49.9° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 50.59 inches

Population: 44,114 as on 2005

Attractions

    * Olympic Mountains and Pacific Ocean beaches
    * Capitol Lake Park
    * Heritage Fountain
    * Yashiro Japanese Garden
    * Chief William Shelton's Story Pole
    * Nisqually Wildlife Refuge
    * Red Wine Casino

Festivals

    * April's Procession of the Species
    * Wooden Boat Fair
    * Harbor Shorebird Festival
    * Swantown Boat-swap & Chowder Challenge
    * Duck Dash & Bite of Olympia
    * Octoberfest