Olympic National Park Macy La Masney

Location The largest temperate rainforests are found on the Pacific coast of North America. They stretch from Oregon to Alaska for 1,200 miles. Smaller temperate rainforests can be found on the southeast coast of Chile in South America. There are a few other coastal strips with temperate rainforests, including small areas in the United Kingdom, Norway, Japan, New Zealand, and southern Australia. Olympic National Park in the U.S. Temperate Rainforests around the world

Climate The average annual temperature is above 0 C, largely influenced by the nearby ocean. The warmest of the temperate rainforests may have average annual temperatures around 20 C. At least 200 cm of it, perhaps up to 350 centimeters in warmer areas. The precipitation can fall in the form of rain or snow, with snow becoming more likely at higher elevations.

Vegetation Large, old trees. The dominant species are Sitka spruce and western hemlock, but other conifers and several deciduous species grow as well. Many are 100s of years old and can reach 250 feet in height and 30 to 60 feet in circumference. Trees -Sitka spruce, Douglas-fir, Western hemlock, Western red cedar, Big leaf maple, Vine maple, Red alder, Black cottonwood Shrubs -Salmonberry and Huckleberry Common Understory Plants -Oregon oxalis, Sword fern, Lady fern, Stair-step moss, 100s of other species of mosses, lichens and liverworts

Plant Adaptions The trees grow bark that protects the inner core from cold temperature, while protecting the tree from parasitic fungi. Epiphytes such as mosses and ferns grow atop other plants to reach light. Cool temperatures lead to slow decomposition but seedlings grow on "nurse logs" to take advantage of the nutrients from the decomposing fallen logs.

Animals The wildlife of the temperate rainforest ranges from beavers and raccoons to cougars, black bears, mountain lions, and wolves. The elk may be the most important animal of all. The elk are called the "landscape gardeners" of the Olympic National Forest. Their foraging and trampling provide the balance that is necessary. If the elk were not there, the rainforest would become a thicket. The elk were once hunted and became endangered. Now the herd is now steady and the forest is well balanced again. Over 300 species of birds live in the area at least part of the year, from tiny penguin-like rhinoceros auklets offshore to golden eagles soaring over the peaks.

Animal Adaptions Due to high rainfall, animals must also grow thicker coats that protect them from the moisture. Larger mammals, such as deer, are smaller and have shorter antlers than deer in other biomes. This adaptation gives them the ability to move freely in the underbrush. Larger carnivores, such as wolves and wildcats, grow thicker pelts in the fall to protect the animals during the cold winter months.

Landscape Lots of trees and moss. (Moss grows on different surfaces as a result of the environment being damp.) Rivers and streams are a keystone in the balancing structure of the rainforest ecosystem. They provide a steady source of water for all life and a home to aquatic plant and animal life.

Olympic National Park Activities Walks and Day Hikes, Auto Tours, Camping, Backpacking, Fishing, Bird watching, and Tide-pooling Explore mountains, forests, and the coasts. There are hundreds of trails, viewing points, and other opportunities to experience the park beyond your windshield. Take a walk in the woods, watch for wildlife, or listen to a river. Winter Activities: Hurricane Ridge- snowshoeing, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, and tubing.

Coming to Olympic National Park? While most people visit during summer, there are unique things to see when visiting at other times throughout the year. When coming to the park anytime besides winter, you should bring a back pack with things like a water bottle and maybe some first aid equipment. They could bring a bike to go on the trails, a map of the park because its huge and shoes to go on hikes and walks in. if coming during the winter I would pack snow pants, snow boots, and a nice coat to go sledding in at Hurricane Ridge.

While in The Area Washington grows famously good (and widely exported) apples and pears. Salmon may get all the attention, and oysters sure suck up more than their fair share of the seafood loving oxygen in Washington, but Dungeness crab - that darling of West Coast shellfish lovers - is named after the small port of Dungeness on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. The rich but cold waters create some of the tastiest shellfish available. Pacific oyster breeds are particularly worth seeking out for their sweet flavor, plump build, snappy texture, and briny pop.