The Pacific Northwest is a region in the northwestern corner of North America, mainly including the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon, plus sometimes the northern tip of California and parts of Idaho, as well as the Canadian province of British Columbia. The region gets its name from the Pacific Ocean, which forms its western border and brings cool, moist air that helps create the area's famous rainy weather and dense evergreen forests.

This region is known for its dramatic natural beauty: towering mountains like Mount Rainier and Mount Hood, thick forests of Douglas fir and western red cedar, and a rugged coastline where the ocean crashes against rocky cliffs. The climate stays mild year-round but gets lots of rain, especially in fall and winter, which is why the forests grow so lush and green.

Major cities like Seattle and Portland in the United States, and Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada, are considered part of the Pacific Northwest. The region has a distinctive culture that values outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking, plus a reputation for coffee shops, technology companies, and environmental awareness.

Native peoples including the Chinook, Salish, and Tlingit have lived in the Pacific Northwest for thousands of years, developing rich cultures connected to salmon fishing and the region's abundant forests. Today, the Pacific Northwest remains one of North America's most naturally beautiful and economically vibrant regions, known for both its wilderness and its innovation.