Port Angeles, Coastal city in Washington, United States
Port Angeles is a coastal town on the north side of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, sitting along the shore of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The town stretches between the water to the north and the forested slopes of Olympic National Park to the south.
Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza gave the harbor its original name Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles in 1791. In 2003, an 8,000-year-old Native American village and burial ground was discovered, revealing the long settlement of the region.
The name comes from the Spanish designation Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles given in 1791 and later shortened. The town serves as a gateway to Olympic National Park and connects maritime traditions with tourism.
The town sits in a rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, resulting in less rainfall than surrounding areas. Ferry connections to Canada and trails into the national park are accessible from the center.
The rain shadow location creates a specific microclimate with much less rainfall than expected in the Pacific Northwest. This results in about 24 inches (610 millimeters) of rain per year instead of over 120 inches (3,050 millimeters) found in nearby areas.
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