Shipwreck Point

Shipwreck Point. . The landscape of the Strait of Juan de Fuca was carved out by ice-age glaciers 13,000 years ago. The retreat of the glaciers created deep fjords which provide abundant food and habitat for many species of marine mammals. , By the mid-1900’s, commercial whaling had pushed many great whale's to the edge of extinction. Through decades of conservation efforts, species like gray whales have rebounded. Others are endangered, and need our help to recover. , Local citizens and visitors to this coastline enjoy watching marine mammals all year long. Researchers watch for the return of the southern resident orcas in the spring. , From here, look for the spouts of passing whales, a splash as they breach, or their tails as they dive. On calm days, listen for the sound of their blows. , You may see sea otters, too. Once extinct in Washington waters, 69 sea otters were reintroduced to nearby La Push in 1969. Since then, the population has grown to over 1,000, and their territories have expanded up the strait. Look for one or dozens of the big otters floating on their backs near the kelp. , The Whale Trail is a series of sites around the region where you may view orcas and other whales or marine mammals from shore.