Seattle was once no more than a muddy little port, transferring timber, coal, grain, and fish to rail cars and barges. Although logging, lumbering, and the fishing industry still remain important to Seattle, environmental concerns and declining fisheries have shifted the region's emphasis away from industries based on natural resources.
Today the city is a major manufacturing center and a prime air and water port for international trade. Situated on Elliott Bay, a deep and unobstructed saltwater harbor, Seattle's port was organized in 1911 and is publicly owned. Seattle boasts the shortest routes from the U.S. mainland to Tokyo, Japan, and is the primary American port to Asia and Siberia. The port has also long considered itself the gateway to Alaska. Seattle's port is among the largest in the United States, managing 28 commercial terminals that link 30 steamship operators with more than 150 truck, rail, or warehouse operators.
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Seattle Information info
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