Central & Eastern Washington - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 398

protected hills and boreal pine forests of the Okanogan and Colville National Forests.
Climatically, the northeast is a transition zone, with a dry belt running immediately east
of the Cascade Mountains, while wetter, more humid air seeps into the verdant Kettle
River and Selkirk Mountain ranges closer to Idaho. This precipitous region marks Wash-
ington's only real incursion into the Rocky Mountains.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Spokane
POP 210,103
Washington's second-biggest population center (edging out Tacoma by about 10,000
people) is a welcome break after the treeless monotony of the eastern Scablands. Situated
at the nexus of the Pacific Northwest's so-called 'Inland Empire,' this understated yet
confident city sits clustered on the banks of the Spokane River. Though rarely touted in
national tourist blurbs, Spokane hosts the world's largest mass-participation running
event (May's annual Bloomsday), a stunning gilded-age hotel (the Davenport) and a
spectacular waterfall throwing up angry white spray in the middle of its downtown. It
was also the childhood home of that famous old crooner Bing Crosby, and remains the
smallest city to have ever hosted an Expo (the 1974 World's Fair). Prepare yourself for
some interesting revelations: there's more to this modest metropolis than meets the eye.