Oregon Facts, part V
Making the run of facts an even five, today I bring you news on more Oregonian areas!
Steller’s and California sea lions are common along the coast, hunting fish and basking on the rocks. In the winter, thousands of these giant creatures may gather near herring schools.
Most sea lions breed on islands. A monument at Sea Lion Caves marks the largest sea caves in North America and home to the only Steller’s sea lion herd known to breed on the mainland.
The state offers unlimited fishing opportunities, from surf fishing along the coast to angling in the lakes of the dunes. Salmon thrive in the rivers, trout populate the inland lakes, and the occasional sturgeon is glimpsed in the Columbia River.
Oregon’s southern coast is less populated than the tourist-oriented north coast. There, small towns lie along quiet bays, and fishing and logging industries coexist with the beauty of the long beaches and quiet islands.
Samuel Boardman State Park hugs the coast for 11 miles, allowing spectacular views from numerous viewpoints along Highway 101.
Wind surfers race the waves at Pistol River State Park. Through the Columbia River Gorge is the best-known windsurfing venue, surfers can find a suitable breeze at many places throughout the state.
Loeb State Park preserves old-growth myrtle-wood – the largest surviving grove in Oregon. Giant redwoods also grace the park, some more than 300 feet high.
Visitors to Jacksonville can step back into the gold rush days. Almost 100 buildings along California Street and throughout the town have been restored to their 19th-century boomtown beginnings.
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