Day 9 - 9/3/15 Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area
Just when we thought it couldn't get any better.....today we visited Yaquina Head (ya KWIN uh), one of the highlights of our trip so far! Yaquina Head is a narrow, coastal headland extending one mile into the Pacific Ocean. Formed by ancient lava flows, Yaquina Head's hard basalt cliffs and coves have endured pounding ocean surf for 14 million years.
On our walk down the trail to the lighthouse we were lucky to watch a gray whale feeding near the shore. The gray whales are large creatures averaging the size of a school bus.
We walked along the tidal pool area and saw an assortment of sea life.
Green Sea Anemone
While down on the beach we watched brown pelicans and Pacific harbor seals spending their time sleeping in the sun and observing the humans on the beach. The ranger told us that the adult seals are about six feet long and weigh 250 pounds!
Pacific Harbor Seals
The Yaquina Head Lighthouse was built in 1873. At 93 feet tall, Oregon's tallest lighthouse continues to cast its light with the original lens in place.
Oregon Coast Looking North of Lighthouse
Looking South to Nye Beach