Devils Punch Bowl State Natural Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Devils Punch Bowl State Natural Area |
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Inside the punch bowl
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| Type | Public, state |
| Location | Lincoln County, Oregon |
| Nearest city | Depoe Bay |
| Created | 1929 |
| Operated by | Oregon Parks and Recreation Department |
The Devils Punch Bowl State Natural Area is a cool state park on the central Oregon Coast in the United States. It's famous for a giant, bowl-shaped rock formation right on the ocean. Waves crash into this bowl, creating a foamy, swirling show!
Outside the bowl, the ocean is perfect for surfers. There's a big rock called Gull Rock about half a mile away. It helps create great waves that you can easily see from the park. Many other large rocks are part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. These rocks are fun to watch and are home to lots of wildlife.
Devils Punch Bowl is about 5 miles south of Depoe Bay. It's also about 8 miles north of Newport, in a small town called Otter Rock. The park is just a short walk from U.S. Route 101. It covers about 5.34 acres and has nice picnic areas. You can also find a trail that leads down to the beach and amazing tide pools.
Scientists believe the bowl formed when two sea caves, carved by the ocean, collapsed. This created the large, open chamber we see today.
If you visit at the right time of year, you might even see whales! They migrate past the park, and because the park sticks out into the Pacific Ocean, it's a fantastic spot for whale watching.
Park History
Long ago, some people called the Punch Bowl "Satan's Cauldron." The park land was bought in different parts between 1929 and 1952.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helped build many things in the park. They added fresh water, restrooms, picnic tables, and cooking stoves. They also built trails and safety fences to keep visitors safe.
In 1963, over 228,000 people visited the park! The busiest time to visit is usually from June through October.
