Cape Flattery Lighthouse, Tatoosh Island, Washington
Tatoosh Island is the very northwesternmost spot in the continental United States. The island is part of the Makah Indian Reservation, on the spectacular Olympic Peninsula. The lightouse is owed and operated by the U.S. Coast Guard. It marks the entrance to the Strait of Juan De Fuca, that wide and deep passage from the open Pacific Ocean to Puget Sound.
Tatoosh Island is not open to the public. The lighthouse is automated, and the island has no permanent inhabitants any more. Sometimes known as the "Galapagos of the Pacific Northwest," because its isolation and relatively pristine condition makes it a sanctuary for certain marine animals, providing a living laboratory for marine biologists.
This photo was made in 1984, when I worked for the Makah Tribe as a forester. Two of us paddled out to the island in a two-person sea kayak. This trip is extremely dangerous unless conditions are favorable and you have the proper experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time working on the Makah Reservation. It is a very special place, and I feel privileged to have had the good fortune to have lived, worked, and explored there. The people are great, and the natural diversity, from sea to temperate rain forest to mountain, is awesome.
Photo location: Tatoosh Island, Clallam County, Washington
