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Puget Sound is an arm of the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It was named by George Vancouver for Lieutenant Peter Puget, who explored its southern end in May 1792. Vancouver claimed it for Great Britain on June 4, 1792. It became part of the Oregon Country, and became U.S. territory when the 1846 Oregon Treaty was signed. The native american name for it is Whulge.

The United States Geological Survey defines Puget Sound as a bay with numerous channels and branches. The Puget Sound is a large salt water estuary fed by freshwater from the Olympic and Cascade Mountain watersheds. The estuary itself is home to many marine creatures including Orca whales, seals and Pacific salmon. Pacific salmon are an iconic species of the Puget Sound Region and spawn in most major tributaries that feed the sound. King or Chinook salmon are one of the many species of salmon in the Puget Sound, as well as Coho, Chum and Sockeye salmon. It extends 144 km (90 miles) south from the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Olympia, Washington; the northern boundary is formed, at its main entrance, by a line between Point Wilson on the Olympic Peninsula and Point Partridge on Whidbey Island; at a second entrance called Deception Pass, between West Point on Whidbey Island, Deception Island, and Rosario Head on Fidalgo Island; at a third entrance, the south end of Swinomish Channel between Fidalgo Island and McGlinn Island. These islands are part of a group of islands known as the San Juan Islands. A unique state-run ferry system connects the islands to the Washington mainland, allowing cars and people to move about the region. [1]

The urban region of the same name is centered around Seattle, Washington and consists of nine counties, two urban center cities and four satellite cities. Both urban core cities have large industrial areas and seaports plus a high-rise central business district. The satellite cities are primarily suburban, featuring a small downtown core and a small industrial area or port. The suburbs consist mostly of residences, strip malls, and shopping centers.

Urbanization Around Puget Sound

The Puget Sound region has been growing rapidly. Puget Sound will grow by 16% between 2000 and 2020 (Sound Transit-Kirkland Project). The population is increasing because people like to live around the ocean. Since 1960, the population of the central Puget Sound has more than doubled, increasing by 1.87 million people from 1,513,000 in 1960 to 3,387,500 in 2003. (http://www.psrc.org/datapubs/pubs/trends/ Puget Sound Trends ). Due to the increasing population and urbanization Puget Sound is getting worse [USA Today].

Oceanographically, it is a partially mixed, estuarine fjord consisting of a series of interconnected basins separated by sills.

Ecologically, the area is very rich, although many non-profit organizations and government agencies are working to address Puget Sound environmental issues.

Eelgrass

Eelgrass is such an exceedingly vital facet of the Puget Sound that many call its beds a “multimillion dollar industry in Washington..." These beds provide nutrients and shelter for various animals in the Sound, the most important being the salmon population. The grass provides protective cover for juvenile salmon who will hide among its leaves to avoid predators. Eelgrass also acts as a nursery for herring who deposit their eggs among the grass. These herring will go on to be an important food source to both juvenile and adult salmon. Additionally, during low tide, eelgrass shelters many small animals from extreme temperatures, and in tideflats the beds act as a sponge for moisture offering additional protection for marine animals.

Eelgrass is an underwater grass that thrives in marine and estuarine water bottoms and spreads through rhizomes, or roots. It has been estimated by The State Department of Natural Resources that Puget Sound is occupied by approximately 26,000 acres of eelgrass. These beds tend to grow in two different Puget Sound habitats, one being flats which can be described as either large shallow bays or small ‘pocket’ beaches, and also in fringe beds along steep shorelines.

Although this grass is such a vital part of the Puget Sound ecosystem, Washington State has lost nearly 33% of its eelgrass beds due to various factors including dredging, which not only removes the grass but inflicts nearly irreversible damage to the Puget Sound ecosystem and marine chemistry. Furthermore, dock construction is detrimental to eelgrass beds as the docks shelter the grass from direct sunlight, a necessity for eelgrass growth. Other factors of eelgrass loss include pollution and logging.

Counties

File:Map-of-washington-state-showing-puget-sound-area.PNG

Counties in the Puget Sound region of Washington state

In addition, the San Juan Islands (all of San Juan County plus a few islands belonging to Whatcom County) are often considered part of the greater Puget Sound area.

Prominent islands

Urban centers

Satellite cities

Largest suburbs (in order from greatest to least population)

External Sources

Department of Ecology, Washington State

Port Townsend Marine Science Center

Sound Waves, Coastal Science & Research News

Puget Sound Action Team

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 '''Puget Sound''' is an arm of the [[Pacific Ocean]] in the [[Pacific Northwest]] of the [[United States]]. It was named by [[George Vancouver]] for Lieutenant [[Peter Puget]], who explored its southern end in May [[1792]]. Vancouver claimed it for [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] on [[June 4]], [[1792]].  It became part of the [[Oregon Country]], and became U.S. territory when the [[1846]] [[Oregon Treaty]] was signed. The native american name for it is Whulge.
-The [[United States Geological Survey]] defines Puget Sound as a [[Headlands and bays|bay]] with numerous channels and branches. The Puget Sound is a large salt water [[estuary]] fed by freshwater from the Olympic and Cascade Mountain watersheds. The estuary itself is home to many marine creatures including Orca whales, seals and Pacific salmon. Pacific salmon are an iconic species of the Puget Sound Region and spawn in most major tributaries that feed the sound. King or Chinook salmon are one of the many species of salmon in the Puget Sound, as well as Coho, Chum and Sockeye salmon. It extends 144 km (90 miles) south from the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]] to [[Olympia, Washington]]; the northern boundary is formed, at its main entrance, by a line between [[Point Wilson]] on the [[Olympic Peninsula]] and [[Point Partridge]] on [[Whidbey Island]]; at a second entrance called [[Deception Pass]], between [[West Point, Whidbey Island, Washington|West Point]] on [[Whidbey Island]], [[Deception Island (Washington)|Deception Island]], and [[Rosario Head]] on [[Fidalgo Island]]; at a third entrance, the south end of [[Swinomish Channel]] between Fidalgo Island and [[McGlinn Island]].  [http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnis/web_query.GetDetail?tab=Y&id=1507653]
+The [[United States Geological Survey]] defines Puget Sound as a [[Headlands and bays|bay]] with numerous channels and branches. The Puget Sound is a large salt water [[estuary]] fed by freshwater from the Olympic and Cascade Mountain watersheds. The estuary itself is home to many marine creatures including Orca whales, seals and Pacific salmon. Pacific salmon are an iconic species of the Puget Sound Region and spawn in most major tributaries that feed the sound. King or Chinook salmon are one of the many species of salmon in the Puget Sound, as well as Coho, Chum and Sockeye salmon. It extends 144 km (90 miles) south from the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]] to [[Olympia, Washington]]; the northern boundary is formed, at its main entrance, by a line between [[Point Wilson]] on the [[Olympic Peninsula]] and [[Point Partridge]] on [[Whidbey Island]]; at a second entrance called [[Deception Pass]], between [[West Point, Whidbey Island, Washington|West Point]] on [[Whidbey Island]], [[Deception Island (Washington)|Deception Island]], and [[Rosario Head]] on [[Fidalgo Island]]; at a third entrance, the south end of [[Swinomish Channel]] between Fidalgo Island and [[McGlinn Island]]. These islands are part of a group of islands known as the San Juan Islands. A unique state-run ferry system connects the islands to the Washington mainland, allowing cars and people to move about the region.  [http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnis/web_query.GetDetail?tab=Y&id=1507653]
 [[Image:Mt Rainier distant-600px.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Snowcapped peaks are a backdrop to many Puget Sound scenes; here [[Mount Rainier]] is seen from [[Gig Harbor]].]]