It runs from the southeastern part of Alaska for approximately 2000 miles to the northernmost tip of California, and is characterized by a temperate climate, heavy annual rainfall, and a rain forest of evergreen trees. This is a rugged coast of fjords and islands, where the mountains are steep and often come right to the sea. There are numerous rivers that run east-west through the mountains to the ocean. Riverine and ocean fish abound, as do marine mammals such as sea lions, seals, and whales.
Tidal flats provide habitat for shellfish, and migratory waterfowl are plentiful.
This land of abundant resources provided a rich sustenance for the native peoples of the Northwest Coast. The population is estimated to have been more than 250,000 in pre-European times. There was great linguistic diversity in the area, with at least eight language families represented by more than twice that many languages. These people lived off the bounties of nature - hunting, fishing, and collecting the many resources available. They lived in permanent villages of large wooden houses and developed a complex and sophisticated socio-political and ritual life.