Final answer:
Washington's large cities are strategically located near transportation hubs and landmark geographical features like the Columbia River, serving as crucial points for trade, industry, and urbanization.
Step-by-step explanation:
Many of Washington's large cities are located near significant geographical and transportation hubs. This pattern emerges due to the presence of the Columbia River and its hydroelectric dominance, which provides essential power and transportation routes for commerce and industry. Large cities such as Seattle have grown at places where multiple transportation modes intersect, creating what geographers call break of bulk points. These are crucial for trading, as they allow for the transfer and distribution of goods. Urbanization along coastal regions was influenced by colonial activities, and today, metropolitan areas along these coasts are integrated with global markets and advanced technologies.