Mason Blake
Puget Sound is a complex system of interconnected marine waterways and basins located on the northwest coast of Washington state in the US. It is part of the Salish Sea, which also includes the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia. Puget Sound has one major and two minor connections to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which in turn connects to the Pacific Ocean. While some people consider Puget Sound to be a separate body of water from the ocean, others argue that it is essentially part of the ocean due to their connection. Locals in the area typically distinguish between the Sound and the ocean, with the latter referring to the open Pacific Ocean along the coast.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins |
| Location | Northwest coast of the U.S. state of Washington |
| Connections | One major and two minor connections to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which connects to the Pacific Ocean |
| Major Connection | Admiralty Inlet |
| Minor Connections | Deception Pass and the Swinomish Channel |
| Length | Approximately 100 miles (160 km) |
| Average Depth | 450 feet (140 m) |
| Maximum Depth | 930 feet (280 m) |
| Main Basin Depth | Approximately 600 feet (180 m) |
| Alternative Term | Whulge or Whulj |
| Salinity | Brackish |
| Cities | Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Everett |
| Type of Estuary | Fjord |
| Estuarine Circulation at Admiralty Inlet | 20,000-30,000 m3 s-1 |
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What You'll Learn
Puget Sound is a complex system of waterways and basins
Puget Sound is a complex system of interconnected marine waterways and basins located on the northwest coast of Washington state in the US. It is part of the Salish Sea, a collective term for the waters of Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Strait of Georgia. The term "Puget Sound" is also used for the region centred on the sound, including major cities such as Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, and Everett.
Puget Sound is an estuarine fjord system, with deep and complex troughs carved by glaciers about 10,000 years ago. It extends approximately 160 kilometres from Deception Pass in the north to Olympia in the south, with an average depth of 140 metres and a maximum depth of 280 metres. The main basin, between the southern tip of Whidbey Island and Tacoma, has a depth of about 180 metres. The depth of the basins is due to the Sound being part of the Cascadia subduction zone, where the Juan de Fuca Plate is subducting under the North America Plate.
Puget Sound has one major and two minor connections to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which in turn connects to the open Pacific Ocean. The major connection is Admiralty Inlet, while the minor ones are Deception Pass and the Swinomish Channel. The Strait of Juan de Fuca is sometimes considered part of Puget Sound under certain definitions. Puget Sound is also connected to other waterways such as Hood Canal, Possession Sound, and Saratoga Passage.
The estuarine circulation in Puget Sound is very large, with a persistent inflow of deep water and outflow of shallower water. This circulation influences water properties and supports the thriving Puget Sound ecosystem. The strength of the estuarine circulation at Admiralty Inlet is estimated to be 20-30 times the total of all the rivers entering the Sound. This dense ocean water mixes with less dense river water at "hot spots" of tidal turbulence, such as Tacoma Narrows.
While Puget Sound is connected to the Pacific Ocean and contains saltwater, locals differentiate it from the ocean. They consider Puget Sound to be a separate body of water, as it lacks ocean swells and general water movement, and land is always visible. The term "ocean" is typically reserved for the Pacific Ocean, which is about 100 miles west of Puget Sound.
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Puget Sound is part of the Salish Sea
Puget Sound is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins located on the northwest coast of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a part of the Salish Sea, which includes the combined waters of the Strait of Georgia, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound, and the San Juan Islands. The name 'Salish Sea' was proposed in 1988 and officially recognized in 2009 by Washington State and British Columbia. The name honours the Coast Salish people, the first inhabitants of the region.
Puget Sound has one major and two minor connections to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which in turn connects to the open Pacific Ocean. The major connection is Admiralty Inlet, and the minor connections are Deception Pass and the Swinomish Channel. The Puget Sound extends approximately 160 kilometres from Deception Pass in the north to Olympia in the south. Its average depth is 140 metres, and its maximum depth, off Jefferson Point between Indianola and Kingston, is 280 metres.
The term 'Puget Sound' is used for the body of water as well as the Puget Sound region centred on the sound. Major cities on the sound include Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, and Everett. The Puget Sound is also the second-largest estuary in the United States, after Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and Virginia.
The boundaries of Puget Sound and the Salish Sea are not consistently defined by scientists and government agencies. Oceanographers define Puget Sound as including waters from Admiralty Inlet and Deception Pass to the southern tip of Olympia. However, conservation efforts often incorporate the entire watershed, including the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Hood Canal, and the San Juan Archipelago.
The Salish Sea is considered a part of the Pacific Ocean, and the marine life and ecology of the region reflect this connection. The Salish Sea basin and water boundaries include the Strait of Georgia, Desolation Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound. The larger watershed basin is the area that drains into the Salish Sea waters.
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Puget Sound is not the Pacific Ocean
In contrast, the Pacific Ocean is a vast body of saltwater that extends west of the Olympic Peninsula and Vancouver Island. It is characterized by open waters and ocean swells, which are not typically seen in Puget Sound. The term "ocean" is often reserved for this larger body of water, and locals differentiate between the "'ocean ocean'" and the Puget Sound.
Another distinction is in the water composition. Puget Sound is influenced by estuarine circulation, where deep ocean water flows in and mixes with less dense river water, resulting in a salinity variation. This mixing of waters is a characteristic feature of estuaries worldwide. Additionally, the glacial origins of Puget Sound contribute to its depth, with an average depth of 450 feet (140 meters) and a maximum depth of 930 feet (280 meters).
The geographic features and surrounding landscapes of Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean also differ. The coastline around Puget Sound is 1,332 miles long, and land is always visible when on the Sound. In contrast, when visiting the Pacific Ocean, one may experience being surrounded by nothing but water for thousands of miles.
Furthermore, the cultural and linguistic associations with each body of water differ. Puget Sound has alternative names such as "Whulge" or "Whulj," derived from the Lushootseed name "x̌ʷəlč," meaning "sea, saltwater, ocean, or sound." The term "Puget Sound" is also used for the region centered on the sound, including major cities like Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, and Everett. These cities are not directly on the Pacific Ocean but are influenced by its proximity.
In summary, while Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean are connected and share certain characteristics, they are distinct from each other in terms of geography, ecology, and cultural perception. Puget Sound, with its unique features and connections to the surrounding region, is considered a separate body of water from the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean.
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Puget Sound is an estuary
Puget Sound is a complex system of interconnected marine waterways and basins located on the northwest coast of Washington state in the US. It is a part of the Salish Sea, which also includes the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia. The term "Puget Sound" is used not just for the body of water but also for the Puget Sound region centred on the sound.
Puget Sound is the second-largest estuary in the United States, after Chesapeake Bay on the East Coast. An estuary is a bay or channel off the ocean that is influenced by rivers and tides, and Puget Sound is characterised by its remarkable patterns of water circulation. It is connected to the Pacific Ocean via the Strait of Juan de Fuca, with one major and two minor connections. The major connection is Admiralty Inlet, while the minor connections are Deception Pass and the Swinomish Channel.
The deep and complex troughs that make up Puget Sound were carved by glaciers, most recently about 10,000 years ago. The length of an estuarine channel, such as Puget Sound, is where ocean and river water mix, creating a gradual variation in salinity. This mixing of dense ocean water and less dense river water is known as estuarine circulation or exchange flow and is a characteristic of every estuary.
The Puget Sound ecosystem is influenced by its physical environment, including the flow of its rivers and currents. The term "estuary" is used to refer to systems like Puget Sound that are influenced by tides and rivers, and it is separate from the ocean. While there is debate about whether Puget Sound is part of the Pacific Ocean or a separate body of water, locals consider it distinct from the ocean. This distinction is based on factors such as the absence of ocean swells and the visibility of land from Puget Sound.
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Puget Sound is a separate body of water
Secondly, the geography and geology of Puget Sound differ from that of the open ocean. It is characterised by deep and complex troughs carved by glaciers, giving it a unique physical environment. The average depth of Puget Sound is 450 feet (140 meters), with a maximum depth of 930 feet (280 meters), which is significantly shallower than the ocean. Additionally, Puget Sound is surrounded by land, whereas when you're at the ocean, there is often only water as far as the eye can see.
The terminology used to describe Puget Sound also reflects its distinct identity. Locals rarely refer to it as the "ocean" and instead use terms like "Bay", "Sound", "strait", "inlet", "harbour", or "channel". This distinction is important to them, and they consider it separate from the Pacific Ocean, which begins about 100 miles west of Puget Sound.
Furthermore, Puget Sound is part of the Salish Sea, a collective term for the waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia, which was established in 2009. This further emphasises the recognition of Puget Sound as a separate body of water, with its own unique characteristics and identity within the larger marine landscape.
While there may be some debate about the technicalities of whether Puget Sound is part of the ocean or not, the local consensus and cultural understanding strongly view it as a separate entity. This distinction is rooted in their experiences of the water, the surrounding geography, and the unique characteristics that set Puget Sound apart from the vast expanse of the open ocean.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Puget Sound is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins located on the northwest coast of the U.S. state of Washington. It is part of the Salish Sea, a larger system of inland marine waters that includes the Strait of Georgia and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Yes, Puget Sound has one major and two minor connections to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which in turn connects to the open Pacific Ocean.
No, Seattle is not on the ocean. It is located on Puget Sound, which is a separate body of water that is connected to the ocean.
