Long Beach Peninsula facts for kids
The Long Beach Peninsula is a long strip of land in Washington state, located on its southern coast. It's found entirely within Pacific County. This peninsula has the Pacific Ocean to its west and the Columbia River to its south. To the east, you'll find Willapa Bay.
At the northern tip of the peninsula are Leadbetter Point State Park and Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. At the southern end is Cape Disappointment. Pacific Pines State Park is located in the middle.
Cape Disappointment State Park is near Ilwaco. It is part of the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. This spot was the westernmost point reached by the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition. A special monument designed by Maya Lin was placed here in 2005.
The Long Beach Peninsula is famous for its very long sand beach. This beach stretches for about 28 miles (45 km) along the Pacific Ocean. Many people say it's the longest beach in the United States. It's a popular place for vacations. Visitors often come from Seattle, Washington (about 165 miles away) and Portland, Oregon (about 115 miles away).
Geography of the Peninsula
The Long Beach Peninsula is quite flat and sits right by the ocean. Because of this, it could be at high risk if a very large ocean wave, called a tsunami, were to happen.
Economy and Fun Activities
The main way people make a living on the Long Beach Peninsula is through tourism. This means many visitors come to enjoy the area. However, other important jobs include fishing, catching crabs, and farming oysters and cranberries. The peninsula is next to Willapa Bay. This bay is known for producing the most farmed oysters in the United States. It's also one of the top five oyster producers worldwide.
The Long Beach Peninsula has become a very popular place for tourists in Washington State. People from all over North America come to visit. Since it was one of the last stops for the Lewis and Clark Expedition, several TV shows have featured this area. This has brought even more attention to the peninsula.
Many exciting events and festivals happen here throughout the year. These include the Washington State International Kite Festival. There's also the Sandsations sandcastle sculpting competition. Another big event is The Rod Run to the End of the World. This car show brings thousands of visitors the weekend after Labor Day.
Towns on the Peninsula
- Ilwaco
- Long Beach
- Nahcotta
- Ocean Park
- Oysterville
- Seaview
