Sea Lion Caves
Encyclopedia
Sea Lion Caves are a connected system of sea caves and cave
rns open to the Pacific Ocean in the U.S. state
of Oregon
. They are located 11 miles (17.7 km) north of Florence
on U.S. Highway 101, about midpoint on the 400 miles (643.7 km) Oregon coast
. In this area Highway 101 follows a steep and undeveloped seascape 300 feet (91.4 m) above sea level. Human access to the caves are through a gift shop building.
system is at sea level
and the ocean continually washes into the main cavern which has a floor area of about 2 acre (0.809372 ha) and a vaulted rock dome about 125 feet (38.1 m) high. Southward from the main chamber, a low passage runs 1000 feet (304.8 m) to a sea level opening. This corridor is flooded at high tide
and free of water at low tide. The western entrance is a short, high passage through which the ocean washes at all tide levels. From the north, a third entrance opens into the main cave, about 50 feet (15.2 m) above the ocean. This entrance serves as an elevated observation area from which one may view the entire underground cave system and its wildlife.
Lichens, algae
, and mineral stains cover the cavern walls with greens, pinks, purples, buffs, and reds, forming on the rough surfaces such easily distinguishable features as Lincoln's Head, the Indian Maiden, and The Goddess of Liberty.
The sea level portion of this cave and the sea cliff rocks just outside the cave have become, over the centuries, the only known mainland rookery
and hauling area (wintering home) of the Stellar Sea Lion, and, to a lesser extent, the California Sea Lion
.
The high vault is a natural resting place for sea birds. Many birds make their home at or near the Sea Lion Caves such as the Pigeon Guillemot
, Brandt's Cormorant
, Western, Herring, and California Gulls, Tufted Puffins, and the occasional hawk or Bald Eagle
.
The Sea Lion Caves is one of the great sea grottos of the world, comparable in size and coloration to the famed Blue Grotto in the Mediterranean. They contain a wide variety of marine life.
The elevation of the Whale Watching deck located below the gift shop and offices permits a seaward view of approximately 20 miles (32.2 km). The deck was built at an altitude of 300 feet,thus making it a favored observation post from which to watch whales. Typically, orcas are seen migrating once a year past the Sea Lion Caves, whereas the Grey Whale is seen anywhere from a few months to all year long. Small groups sometimes end their migration in the immediate vicinity of the Sea Lion Caves, feeding very close to the shore.
Access to the caves from the hillside above was not even considered until after the land was acquired by R. E. Clanton in 1927, with the specific intention of opening the caves as a business. In 1930, when it became probable that U.S. highway 101 would be completed, Clanton was joined by J. G. Houghton, and J. E. Jacobson. The three partners decided to risk all that they owned and could borrow to build a safe access to the cave. A trail 1500 feet long was excavated by hand into the face of the cliff and at its lower termination a 135 stair step wooden tower was extended down to the north entrance of the caves. Despite the difficulty and danger of the construction, the trail and stairs provided safe access for visitors and the Sea Lion Caves was opened to the public by this route in August 1932.
The traffic was light at first. The highway was only a gravel road until 1934, and until 1937 there were five ferry crossings within 100 miles. However, word of the attraction spread and the number of people visiting the Sea Lion Caves slowly grew until 1942, when virtually all such travel was halted by World War ll.
Meanwhile, Clanton withdrew from the partnership in 1934 and R. A. Saubert became part owner. The same three families operated the Sea Lion Caves until 2006, when the Saubert and Jacobson families took over the partnership. Now the two families operate the Sea Lion Caves as a private responsibility with ownership passing down from the elder generations to the children of the families.
In 1961, the addition of an elevator resulted in a sharp rise in the number of visitors. The elevator took three difficult years to build, but by June 1961, Otis Elevator Company
completed the elevator. It has a capacity of 23 passengers and travels 208 feet (63.4 m) at 250 feet per minute (2.8 miles per hour (4.5 km/h)). It can accommodate 400 people per hour.
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
rns open to the Pacific Ocean in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. They are located 11 miles (17.7 km) north of Florence
Florence, Oregon
Florence is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 8,466.-History:The Florence area was originally inhabited by the Siuslaw tribe of Native Americans. Some state that the city was named for state senator A. B...
on U.S. Highway 101, about midpoint on the 400 miles (643.7 km) Oregon coast
Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It runs generally north-south along the Pacific Ocean, forming the western border of the state; the region is bounded to the east by the Oregon Coast Range. The Oregon Coast stretches approximately from the Columbia River in the north to...
. In this area Highway 101 follows a steep and undeveloped seascape 300 feet (91.4 m) above sea level. Human access to the caves are through a gift shop building.
Description
The caveCave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
system is at sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
and the ocean continually washes into the main cavern which has a floor area of about 2 acre (0.809372 ha) and a vaulted rock dome about 125 feet (38.1 m) high. Southward from the main chamber, a low passage runs 1000 feet (304.8 m) to a sea level opening. This corridor is flooded at high tide
High Tide
High Tide was a band formed in 1969 by Tony Hill , Simon House , Peter Pavli and Roger Hadden .-History:...
and free of water at low tide. The western entrance is a short, high passage through which the ocean washes at all tide levels. From the north, a third entrance opens into the main cave, about 50 feet (15.2 m) above the ocean. This entrance serves as an elevated observation area from which one may view the entire underground cave system and its wildlife.
Lichens, algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
, and mineral stains cover the cavern walls with greens, pinks, purples, buffs, and reds, forming on the rough surfaces such easily distinguishable features as Lincoln's Head, the Indian Maiden, and The Goddess of Liberty.
The sea level portion of this cave and the sea cliff rocks just outside the cave have become, over the centuries, the only known mainland rookery
Rookery
A rookery is a colony of breeding animals, generally birds. A rook is a Northern European and Central Asian member of the crow family, which nest in prominent colonies at the tops of trees. The term is applied to the nesting place of birds, such as crows and rooks, the source of the term...
and hauling area (wintering home) of the Stellar Sea Lion, and, to a lesser extent, the California Sea Lion
California Sea Lion
The California sea lion is a coastal sea lion of western North America. Their numbers are abundant , and the population continues to expand about 5% annually. They are quite intelligent and can adapt to man-made environments...
.
The high vault is a natural resting place for sea birds. Many birds make their home at or near the Sea Lion Caves such as the Pigeon Guillemot
Pigeon Guillemot
The Pigeon Guillemot is a medium-sized alcid endemic to the Pacific. They closely resemble the other members of the genus Cepphus, particularly the Black Guillemot, which is slightly smaller....
, Brandt's Cormorant
Brandt's Cormorant
The Brandt's Cormorant is a strictly marine bird of the cormorant family of seabirds that inhabits the Pacific coast of North America. It ranges, in the summer, from Alaska to the Gulf of California, but the population north of Vancouver Island migrates south during the winter...
, Western, Herring, and California Gulls, Tufted Puffins, and the occasional hawk or Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
.
The Sea Lion Caves is one of the great sea grottos of the world, comparable in size and coloration to the famed Blue Grotto in the Mediterranean. They contain a wide variety of marine life.
The elevation of the Whale Watching deck located below the gift shop and offices permits a seaward view of approximately 20 miles (32.2 km). The deck was built at an altitude of 300 feet,thus making it a favored observation post from which to watch whales. Typically, orcas are seen migrating once a year past the Sea Lion Caves, whereas the Grey Whale is seen anywhere from a few months to all year long. Small groups sometimes end their migration in the immediate vicinity of the Sea Lion Caves, feeding very close to the shore.
History
Sea Lion Caves were discovered in 1880 by a local seaman, Captain William Cox, who entered the grotto through the western channel in a small boat on a calm day. He reportedly returned to explore the caves a number of times and on one occasion was marooned for several days because of the stormy weather and the rough ocean. During this time he supposedly sustained himself by shooting a young sea lion and eating the meat of its flippers. Regardless of the incident's authenticity, it is established that Captain Cox purchase the land in 1887 from the State of Oregon. He and his heirs owned the property until 1926. There were no roads in the area at that time. The slopes of the rocky headlands were used for sheep pasture.Access to the caves from the hillside above was not even considered until after the land was acquired by R. E. Clanton in 1927, with the specific intention of opening the caves as a business. In 1930, when it became probable that U.S. highway 101 would be completed, Clanton was joined by J. G. Houghton, and J. E. Jacobson. The three partners decided to risk all that they owned and could borrow to build a safe access to the cave. A trail 1500 feet long was excavated by hand into the face of the cliff and at its lower termination a 135 stair step wooden tower was extended down to the north entrance of the caves. Despite the difficulty and danger of the construction, the trail and stairs provided safe access for visitors and the Sea Lion Caves was opened to the public by this route in August 1932.
The traffic was light at first. The highway was only a gravel road until 1934, and until 1937 there were five ferry crossings within 100 miles. However, word of the attraction spread and the number of people visiting the Sea Lion Caves slowly grew until 1942, when virtually all such travel was halted by World War ll.
Meanwhile, Clanton withdrew from the partnership in 1934 and R. A. Saubert became part owner. The same three families operated the Sea Lion Caves until 2006, when the Saubert and Jacobson families took over the partnership. Now the two families operate the Sea Lion Caves as a private responsibility with ownership passing down from the elder generations to the children of the families.
In 1961, the addition of an elevator resulted in a sharp rise in the number of visitors. The elevator took three difficult years to build, but by June 1961, Otis Elevator Company
Otis Elevator Company
The Otis Elevator Company is the world's largest manufacturer of vertical transportation systems today, principally focusing on elevators and escalators...
completed the elevator. It has a capacity of 23 passengers and travels 208 feet (63.4 m) at 250 feet per minute (2.8 miles per hour (4.5 km/h)). It can accommodate 400 people per hour.
External links
- Sea Lion Caves (official website)
- Live webcam at Sea Lion Caves