Hoh rainforest
The Hoh Rainforest (also called Hoh Rain Forest or Hoh National Rainforest ) is located on the Olympic Peninsula in western Washington state , which is in the northwestern United States . It is one of the few temperate rainforests in the country and part of Olympic National Park . Within the national park, 39 km² of forest are protected in the lower areas between around 130 and 800 m altitude, which are located on the Hoh River . By contrast, the forest between the park boundary and the Pacific was completely cut down in the 20th century.
The name goes back to the Hoh , an Indian tribe living there that is closely related to the Quileute . In 2000, 102 of them lived on the reservation, of which 81 were recognized as Native Americans .
The precipitation is very strong, so that the annual mean comes to about 3,600 to 4,200 mm. The heavy floods between autumn and spring cause severe erosion and the river often moves its bed.
The predominant tree species are the Sitka spruce and the West American hemlock . The latter reach heights of up to 95 m in the park. There are also Douglas firs , the giant arborvitae , but also Oregon maple , vine leaf maple , red or Oregon alder and western balsam poplar are represented.
The Northern Spotted Owl ( Strix occidentalis caurina ), the northern subspecies of the spotted owl that only lives in the huge trees, is native here, as are raccoons and black bears , Roosevelt elk and mule deer and puma .
A National Park Service ranger station is responsible for protecting and preserving the rainforest.
Web links
- National Park Service: Visiting the Hoh Rain Forest
Remarks
- ^ HOH RS, WASHINGTON (453710) , Period of Record Monthly Climate Summary (2004-2016).
Coordinates: 47 ° 51 ′ 41.2 " N , 123 ° 55 ′ 28.8" W.