Having grown up near Mount Olympus in southern Europe, I was naturally curious about the fascinating landscape that stretches thousands of miles from the edge of North America to the Pacific Ocean. A mention of the rainforests located 8 km northwest was enough to make me want to visit Olympic National Park.
Some research before leaving for the trip revealed that this 9,000,000-acre park in southwest Washington State, USA, is full of fascinating natural wonders. That’s why the atmosphere of the tall trees of this rugged coast is very humid. The park also has volcanoes and snow-capped mountains from which avalanches often fall. In addition, its rainforests are the dark and enchanting forests of the Amazon. are not less than in any way
In 1788, an English captain named the highest peak in the range, about 8,000 feet, Mount Olympus, after the supposed home of the Greek mythological gods. The park was established
Rainforests of North America.
One pleasant autumn morning, a local guide named Mike was waiting for me and my wife at the park headquarters in Port Angeles. Tall and broad-chested, Mike showed tourists like us the beauty of this rainforest. He shows the views with great pride. He said with great joy and excitement that “The most visible thing of this Olympic National Park is the rain forests here. This term is generally used for rainforests. These forests are among ours. On a smaller scale, it occurs in forests found in temperate latitudes.” When I asked for clarification, Mike immediately launched into statistics: These forests grow because of the heavy and heavy rains on the western slopes of the Olympic Mountains. Rainfall ranges from 80 to 150 inches per year near the coast, but higher in the mountain valleys. The valleys of the Ho River, the Cuits River, and the Quinault River are densely forested.
Even our footsteps could not be heard due to the two high and thick layers of vegetation on the forest floor. The forest is so dense that even the air can barely pass through, even with the rain that falls here most of the time. The green was falling like dew. The sunlight was reaching us in very dim rays. Even the faint call of the birds was very loud, and the deer and the deer sometimes called out from among the moss-laden trees. Glimpses were shown
Where trees grow on trees.
Because the ground is covered with a thick layer of decayed vegetation, the seeds do not get a chance to go into the ground and germinate, due to which most of the big trees in this forest grow on broken trunks. These are fallen dead trees. which the seeds that fall upon him
It is often seen here that several large trees grow in a row on the same very large fallen tree. Many trees grow in rows inside the trunks of fallen trees. As if someone had sown them in rows with great care
As we ascended into the Olympic National Park, the forest was changing and tall trees of Pacific Silver Fir and Lupine Fir were now visible. Other high mountain areas have more than 50 glaciers
Rugged and snow-covered mountains.
Walking on such difficult trails had exhausted our energy to a great extent which needed to be restored. So, our next day started at Port Angeles.
I woke up to a great breakfast. Our kind waiter, Arlen, liked the snow more than the rain in this area. He said if we didn’t see the eastern snow-capped mountains of Olympic National Park, we’d be missing out. ,
As we headed east from Port Angeles to Deer Park, we soon found ourselves on a bumpy road with narrow and dangerous turns. Traveling north and south through the Yuan De Fuca Strait to Vancouver Island and the high snow-capped Olympic Mountains. We were able to see the beautiful scenery of the alpine meadows, many deer and some plants that only grow in this region of the earth, including piper bellflower and flat violet.
After that we reached Hurricane Ridge. The reason for the popularity of the mountain road leading up to this point in the park is easy to understand. From this point, the mountains spread in the south direction and take the form of snowy mountains, whose valleys are also covered with snow. They left
When the snow clears from these greenery, the lilies bloom and the season of colorful flowers lasts for the next three months. Deer can be seen jumping around on these picturesque mountains and sometimes mountain goats can be seen clinging to the rocks above the highway.
Turbulent Pacific Ocean
The beaches of Olympic National Park are accessible by foot rather than by car. Passing through the forests of Forks, the eastern town, we arrive at tidal marsh beaches teeming with beautiful marine life. Beyond Twight Head we arrive at the Giant’s Graveyard. It is actually the rocks located some distance from the shore that make the big Pacific waves the seabed. The trees on this beach are always bent by the pressure of the strong wind. While walking on the beach in this strong wind, we See the beautiful weathered wood and shiny stones
For us, the visit to Olympic National Park proved to be a truly thrilling and awe-inspiring experience. It deepened our respect for the Creator, for “the depths of the earth belong to Him, and the tops of the mountains belong to Him.” The sea is His. He made it, and His hands prepared the dry land
Turbulent Pacific Ocean.
Moisture-laden clouds from the warm Pacific coast are lifted by the high Olympian Mountains. As the clouds rise, they cool, turning the moisture into rain or snow. Therefore, The western side of these mountains receives more than 140 inches of precipitation each year. Mount Olympus receives about 200 inches of precipitation, which usually falls as snow. However, its eastern region is relatively dry and receives rainfall. It is called the place of protection
