Pasco

Town, river port, and administrative headquarters of Franklin County, southeast Washington, USA; population (2000) 32,100. It is situated in the Columbia Basin, on the Columbia River, to the northwest of the junction with the Snake River, opposite Kennewick, and 8 mi/13 km southeast of Richland. It is a major trade and transportation hub for southeast Washington. The town lies in a rich agricultural area, and the Pasco Farmers' Market is the region's largest.

Pasco was founded in 1880 and grew as a railroad town. Like its sister towns, Kennewick and Richland, it developed rapidly during World War II with the construction of the nearby Hanford nuclear facility. The McNary National Wildlife Refuge and Sacajawea State Park both lie to the southeast of the town. There are several wineries in the town's environs.

Pasco

Department in the central highlands of Peru, stretching from the Andes eastwards to the Amazon Basin; area 25,320 sq km/9,776 sq mi; population (1996) 243,671. The capital is Cerro de Pasco. The terrain of the department is very rugged and mountainous, and there is little agricultural activity. Pasco is, however, one of the world's greatest mining regions; silver, copper, lead, zinc, gold, vanadium, and bismuth are all extracted here. Silver was first worked here in the late 17th century.

Many indigenous peoples live in the tropical areas of the department.