Cape Foulweather facts for kids
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Cape Foulweather is a tall, rocky cliff made of basalt rock. It stands about 500 feet (152 meters) above the Pacific Ocean on the central coast of Oregon, in Lincoln County. It's located just south of a town called Depoe Bay. This cape is famous because it was the first piece of land on the northwest coast that Captain James Cook saw and named during his third trip around the world.
Discovering Cape Foulweather
Captain James Cook was a famous explorer. He sailed past this part of the coast on March 7, 1778. He wrote in his journal about what he saw.
Why is it called Cape Foulweather?
Captain Cook named the cape because of the very bad weather he experienced there. He wrote:
The land appeared to be of moderate height, diversified with hill and Valley and almost everywhere covered with wood. There was nothing remarkable about it except one hill…At the northern extreme the land formed a point which I called Cape Foulweather from the very bad weather we soon after met with.
This means he saw a land with hills and valleys, mostly covered in trees. He called the northernmost point "Cape Foulweather" because of the stormy weather that hit his ship right after he saw it.
Where can you see Cape Foulweather?
Today, you can get a great view of Cape Foulweather from the Otter Crest State Scenic Viewpoint. This is a popular spot for visitors to enjoy the beautiful Oregon coast.
