November 06, 2024

Shi Shi Beach in Olympic National Park, Washington, USA

Olympic National Park in the United States, established in 1938, offers an escape into unspoiled wilderness. It covers nearly 372,950 hectares on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. With a labyrinth of ecosystems that range from glacier-capped mountains to temperate rainforests, the park is a home for wildlife as well as a retreat for thrill-seekers and history buffs. Within it lies Shi Shi Beach, a serene stretch where the Pacific laps against sea stacks and sandy shores, as seen in today's image. Recognised as an International Biosphere Reserve, this national park features 900 kilometres of trails, where hikers can embark on a trek along the coast to see the beach's sea arch at Point of the Arches, an outcrop that has over 30 sea stacks, columns of rock rising from the beach.

Visitors can get a closer look at Mount Olympus, spot over 300 bird species like red-breasted nuthatches, winter wrens and spotted owls. They can also take a refreshing swim in the Lake Crescent. The coastal wilderness area north of Cape Alava, including the beach there, has been home to the Makah Tribe of the Pacific Northwest Coast for over 2,000 years. Visitors can gain an insight into their culture at the nearby Makah Reservation.