Tillamook Bay facts for kids
Tillamook Bay is a beautiful inlet of the Pacific Ocean on the northwest coast of Oregon. It's about 6 miles (10 km) long and 2 miles (3 km) wide. You can find it just north of Cape Meares in western Tillamook County. It's about 75 miles (120 km) west of Portland.
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What is Tillamook Bay?
The bay is protected from the big ocean waves by a 3-mile (5 km) sandbar. This sandbar is called the Bayocean Peninsula. The Coastal Range mountains surround most of the bay.
At the southeast end, you'll find the town of Tillamook. Several rivers flow into the bay here. These rivers are the Kilchis, Wilson, Trask, and Tillamook rivers. They rush down from the nearby mountains. The short Miami River also enters the north end of the bay.
The small fishing village of Garibaldi is located near where the bay meets the ocean. The rivers that feed the bay are famous for their many steelhead and salmon. When freshwater from the rivers mixes with the ocean's saltwater, it creates an estuary. An estuary is a special place where different types of water meet.
History of the Bay
The name "Tillamook" comes from a Coast Salish word. It means "Land of Many Waters." This name probably refers to all the rivers that flow into the bay. When Europeans first arrived, the Tillamook and other related tribes lived along the coast. Historians believe these tribes came to the area around the year 1400.
The first American to visit Tillamook Bay was Captain Robert Gray. He arrived in August 1788 and explored the area. He was the first American known to step onto Oregon's shore. Captain Gray first thought he had found the Columbia River. But he soon realized his mistake. After a difficult meeting with the local Native Americans, he left the area after only one week.
The bay area was settled in 1848 by Elbridge Trask. He traveled overland to reach the bay. Stories of early settlement were told in a 1960 book called Trask by Don Berry.
Modern Uses and Attractions
In 1911, a group called the Port of Bayocean was created. They managed land at the entrance to the bay. During World War II, the United States Navy had a blimp patrol station near the bay. This station was called Naval Air Station Tillamook. It closed in 1948.
In 1953, the Port of Bayocean took over the old station. It became the Port of Tillamook Bay. A 5.5-mile (9 km) railroad track connects the towns along the bay to the main Southern Pacific Railroad line.
Today, you can ride special cycle-transports on 6 miles of the old railroad tracks. A company called Oregon Coast Railriders offers these fun trips. The bay is easy to reach from Portland. It's a very popular way to visit the Oregon Coast.
There are also plans for the Salmonberry Trail. This trail will connect four coastal towns. It will also go through the Coastal Mountain Range to Banks, OR. People will be able to hike, bike, and ride horses on this route. The town of Tillamook is also home to the famous Tillamook Cheese Factory.
Safety at the Bay Entrance
The stone wall at the mouth of Tillamook Bay is only 400 meters wide. When the weather is bad, the waves outside the harbor can be 10 meters (33 feet) high. This makes entering the harbor very dangerous.
In July 1980, Richard Dixon was a United States Coast Guard coxswain. He led two brave rescues near the Tillamook Bay breakwater. For his courage, he received two Coast Guard Medals.
See also
In Spanish: Tillamook Bay para niños
