Auburn is centrally located in western Washington's Puget Sound region. The city is geographically defined by the Green River Valley and the rivers that run through it, specifically the Green River and the White River. It is bordered by the cities of Federal Way to the west, Kent to the north, Pacific and Algona to the south, and unincorporated King County (including the Cascade foothills) to the east.
Historically, the convergence of the Green and White rivers caused regular flooding, which enriched the valley's soil for agriculture. The construction of the Howard A. Hanson Dam and the Mud Mountain Dam in the mid-20th century largely tamed the rivers, allowing for the intensive industrial and residential development that characterizes the valley floor today.
The city's landscape features a striking transition from the flat, heavily developed alluvial plain of the valley floor to the steep, forested ridges that flank it on the east and west, providing panoramic views of Mount Rainier on clear days.
