Moolack Beach

South view. The Yaquina Head Light is visible.

Coordinates: 44°41′59″N 124°03′55″W / 44.6998382°N 124.0653945°W / 44.6998382; -124.0653945 Moolack Beach (also Moolack Shores) is an undeveloped sandy beach on the Oregon Coast about 4 miles (6 km) north of Newport in Lincoln County, United States. It is almost 8 km (5 mi) in length with the south end at Yaquina Head and the north end at Otter Rock, the site of Devils Punch Bowl State Natural Area. The northern beach is the site of Beverly Beach State Park and the community of Beverly Beach. The beach has no obvious break delineating what would seem to be Beverly Beach, though Wade Creek is a likely candidate.[1] The nearly ten foot (3 m) tidal range and seasonally-varying slope of the beach can cause the sandy beach to completely disappear at times; at other times it can be hundreds of feet wide. The beach is bounded by U.S. Route 101.

The name is from an Chinook Jargon word for "elk". The area is rich with geologic history.[2]

Geology

The rooted stumps that remain likely belonged to trees living approximately 4,500 years ago. Several such stumps are visible at Moolack Beach.[3] Among petrified woods common at Moolack Beach is Teredo wood, which is named for the signature Teredo clam-bored holes. Other petrified woods include pines and hardwoods, including alder, myrtlewood, and oak, as well as petrified palm.

Climate

Moolack Beach looking northward at sunset

Moolack Beach reaches high temperatures in the 60s in the summer months and nights in the 40s (5–20 °C). During winter, temperatures usually range from the 50s down to the 30s (0–15 °C). December experiences the greatest amount of Moolack's significant precipitation, while July is driest.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ See USGS topographic map
  2. ↑ Jason Evans (January 10, 2007). "Discovering coastal fossils, minerals and strange stumps". Newport News Times. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  3. ↑ Cherilyn Parsons (May 7, 2006). "Oregon's novel nirvana". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  4. ↑ "Moolack Beach, Lincoln County, Oregon". Going Outside. Retrieved 2008-01-13.

External links


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