Toe Jam Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Toe Jam Hill |
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Sign on Toe Jam Hill Road, overlooking Puget Sound
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 425 ft (130 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 425 ft (130 m) |
| Geography | |
 Toe Jam Hill
Location in Washington (state)
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| Topo map | USGS Bremerton East |
Toe Jam Hill is a special spot on Bainbridge Island, Washington. It stands 425 feet tall. This makes it the highest point on the island. It's also one of the tallest places in Kitsap County, Washington.
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What's in a Name?
Have you ever wondered how places get their names? Toe Jam Hill has a few stories! One idea is that it was named after a person called Torjam. This is what the local history experts say. Another story suggests it got its name from people who stumbled a bit while walking up the hill. Some people even say that no one really knows the true story behind the name. It's a bit of a mystery!
Fun Facts and Challenges
Toe Jam Hill was once a famous challenge for athletes.
- Bicycle riders on the "Chilly Hilly" race found it tough. This race is a big event put on by the Cascade Bicycle Club in Seattle.
- Runners also faced the hill in the Bainbridge Island Half Marathon. This race used to be called the Toe Jam Hill Half Marathon. It shows how well-known the hill was for its challenge!
How Tall Is It Really?
You might think measuring a hill's height is easy. But for Toe Jam Hill, it's a bit tricky!
- Older maps from the USGS used aerial photos. These maps showed a different nearby hill, Gazzam Lake Hill, as the highest point.
- Newer maps use something called LIDAR. LIDAR uses lasers to create very detailed maps of the ground. These new maps show Toe Jam Hill is actually taller, by about 15 feet or more! So, it seems Toe Jam Hill truly is the highest spot.
Hidden Fault Line
In the 1990s, those amazing LIDAR surveys found something else important. They discovered a hidden crack in the Earth's crust near the hill. This crack is now called the Toe Jam Hill Fault. It might be connected to a bigger fault line called the Seattle Fault. This was the first time a fault was found using laser mapping technology!
A Park on the Hill
In 2011, a new city park was created on Toe Jam Hill. It's called Nutes Pond Park (sometimes spelled Nute's Pond). It's a great place for people to visit and enjoy nature on this famous hill.
