Grays Harbor facts for kids
Grays Harbor is a large bay on the southwest coast of Washington State, in the United States. It's like a big arm of the ocean that reaches inland, where the Chehalis River flows in. This bay is about 17 miles (27 km) long and 12 miles (19 km) wide.
The bay was formed a long time ago, at the end of the last ice age. As sea levels rose, they flooded the Chehalis River valley, creating this unique harbor. The cities of Aberdeen and Hoquiam are located on its eastern side. Many other smaller rivers also flow into Grays Harbor.
Two narrow strips of land, called peninsulas, separate the bay from the Pacific Ocean. The northern one has the town of Ocean Shores, and the southern one has Westport. There's an opening about two miles (3 km) wide for ships to pass through.
Grays Harbor is named after Captain Robert Gray. He explored this area in 1792 during his fur-trading trips. Captain Gray first called it Bullfinch Harbor. However, another explorer, Captain George Vancouver, later named it Gray's Harbor. This name stuck, and the apostrophe was removed over time. A few days after finding Grays Harbor, Captain Gray also became the first known European to sail into the Columbia River.
People started settling in the Grays Harbor area in the early 1870s. The main industry was lumber, which means cutting down trees for wood. Many loggers from other parts of the United States moved here. People from Scandinavia and Finland in Europe also came to work in the forests.
Nature and Wildlife
The Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge is a special place for nature lovers. It covers about 1,500 acres (6.1 km²) near Hoquiam. This refuge protects important areas like mudflats and salt marshes. Many different kinds of birds and other wildlife live here.
Islands and Sandbars
Grays Harbor has several islands and sandbars. These are pieces of land or shallow areas that are surrounded by water.
Some of the islands include:
- Grass Island, located near Westport.
- Rennie Island, which is the largest at 225 acres (0.91 km²). It's near Aberdeen.
- Sand Island, found almost in the middle of the bay.
- Goose Island, which is close to Sand Island.
There are also named sandbars like Whitcomb Flats, near Westport. These areas are important for wildlife. Sand Island, Goose Island, and Whitcomb Flats are part of the Washington Natural Areas Program. This program helps protect important natural places.
Historic Events
In the early 1900s, Grays Harbor was a very busy place. It was known as the largest lumber shipyard in the world. This meant many ships came here to load wood.
Workers in the lumber industry sometimes went on strike to ask for better pay or working conditions. A group called the Industrial Workers of the World led some of these strikes in 1912, 1917, and 1923.
During World War II, Grays Harbor was important for defense. The military placed searchlights and large guns around the harbor. These defenses were there to protect the area from possible attacks.
Images for kids
-
Grays Harbor in 1891, as seen from Hoquiam.
See also
In Spanish: Grays Harbor para niños
