|
As with so many other parks throughout the system, Olympic NP does not come to mind when one thinks of submerged resources. The park actually has three major venues that possess striking diversity underwater. The coastal unit of the park contains over 60 miles of shoreline that is the largest section of wilderness coast in the lower 48 states.
Although not attractive to divers due to low visibility tannic water, Lake Ozette is approximately 300 deep with a seamount that rises to within 8 of the surface. This lake sees an annual run of Sockeye salmon upstream from the Pacific. Due to the salmon run there is potential for prehistoric fish traps in the lake.
The most visually dramatic submerged resources at Olympic lie in the crystal clear waters of Lake Crescent. These include sunken barges, material associated with the old Spruce Railway (developed to provide spruce for aviation use in WWI), and submerged trees located at various points within the lake that offer a glimpse into the natural history of the area including prior lake levels. |
