Hoh Rain Forest Olympic Peninsula
The Hoh Rain Forest - Olympic National Park Washington
The Hoh Rainforest, pronounced "Hoe", earns its name from the ever-flowing Hoh River that carves its way from Mount Olympus towards the Pacific Coast.
The word "Hoh" undoubtedly comes from Native American languages; possibly the Quileute word "Ohalet" which means "fast moving water" or "snow water." Since the river itself forms from glacial runoff, that origin seems straightforward. Other explanations state that the Quinault word "Qu," meaning "boundary," could be the root of the name as a river as massive as the Hoh certainly forms a formidable boundary across the landscape.
The Hoh Rain Forest is one of four rain forests on the Olympic
Peninsula. However, it is the only one that has been awarded the distinction of
being a World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Its unique ecosystem has remained unchanged
for thousands of years and it is now the most carefully preserved rain forest
in the northern hemisphere.
Throughout the winter season, rain falls frequently in the Hoh Rain Forest, contributing to the yearly average of 140 inches (3.55 meters) of precipitation each year. The result is a lush, green canopy of both coniferous and deciduous species. Mosses and ferns that blanket the surfaces add another dimension to the enchantment of the rain-forest.
The Hoh Rain Forest is located in the stretch of the Pacific Northwest rainforest which once spanned the Pacific coast from southeastern Alaska to the central coast of California. The Hoh is one of the finest remaining examples of temperate rainforest in the United States and is one of the park's most popular destinations.
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