Olympic Peninsula Washington

Olympic Peninsula in Washington

The Olympic Peninsula is the large arm of land in western Washington that lies across Puget Sound from Seattle, and contains Olympic National Park. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the north by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the east by Hood Canal. Cape Alava, the westernmost point in the contiguous United States, and Cape Flattery, the northwesternmost point, are on the peninsula. Comprising about 3,600 square miles (9,300 km2), the Olympic Peninsula contained many of the last unexplored places in the contiguous United States. 

Olympic National Park Fun Facts 

·         Olympic National Park is a United States National Park located in the state of Washington, on the Olympic Peninsula.

·         Olympic National Park is the 7th most-visited National Park in America.

·         The park encompasses 373,383 hectares (922,650 acres) of land.

·         U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt originally created Mount Olympus National Monument on 2 March 1909.

·         It was designated a national park by President Franklin Roosevelt on June 29, 1938.

·         In 1976, Olympic National Park became an International Biosphere Reserve, and in 1981 it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

·         In 1988, Congress designated 95% of the park as the Olympic Wilderness.

·         The park has four regions: the Pacific coastline, alpine areas, the west side temperate rainforest and the forests of the drier east side.

·         Within the park there are three distinct ecosystems which are sub-alpine forest and wildflower meadow, temperate forest, and the rugged Pacific Shore.

·         Within the center of Olympic National Park rise the Olympic Mountains whose sides and ridge lines are topped with massive, ancient glaciers.

·         The Olympic Mountains formed over 30 million years ago.

·         Mount Olympus which rises to 2,428 meters (7,965 feet) is the crown jewel of the Olympic Mountains. Standing high above the other summits, Mount Olympic is the center of the Olympic National Park.

·         The Hoh Rainforest is one of the largest temperate rainforests in the U.S. Always green, and almost always wet, Hoh Rain Forest is one of the most popular places in Olympic National Park.

·         The Quinault Rainforest is located in the valley formed by the Quinault River and Lake Quinault. The valley is called the “Valley of the Rain Forest Giants” because of the number of record size tree species located there.

·         Lake Crescent 4 hectares (10 acres) natural lake located at an elevation of 180 meters (600 feet) is a pristine area that provides visitors with an extraordinary place for recreation and relaxation.

·         Sol Duc Falls is an absolutely breathtaking Northwest waterfall. With lush greenery all around and rushing, pristine mountain water, and great hiking trails, it is a must-see destination!

Just a one trip to Olympic park and forest, offers with several diverse environments across the Olympic Peninsula in northwestern Washington. Be inspired to see the glacier-capped peaks, valleys of forests, hot springs, and rugged Pacific coastline. Olympic National Park offers outdoor adventures, cultural experiences and serene, natural splendor. It has several distinctly different ecosystems, including glacier-capped mountains, old-growth temperate rain forests, and over 70 miles of wild coastline.