Tide pools
Starfish.
King of Hearts — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jana Taylor — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lenny K Photography from Sydney, Australia — CC BY 2.0 · Joe Mabel (on Flickr as Joe Mabel from Seattle, US) — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Zack Knowles — CC BY-SA 3.0
Haystack Rock is a 72-metre sea stack on the beach at Cannon Beach, Oregon, about 2 km south of the town centre in a straight line and about 129 km west of Portland. Its base can be reached on foot at low tide. The rock is made of basalt formed by lava flows about 15 to 17 million years ago, and it was once joined to the coast until erosion cut it off. Three smaller rocks to its south are known as the Needles. It was given Marine Garden status in 1990 and is part of the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The dark rock rises above the wide, flat sand, mirrored in the thin sheet of water left by the retreating waves. Many seabirds nest on its slopes, including terns and puffins, and the tide pools at its base hold starfish, sea anemones and crabs. Visitors walk along the long beach to the rock and explore the tide pools at low tide. Climbing the rock and collecting creatures from the pools are not allowed, and watch the incoming tide so you are not cut off. Sunset is the best time for photos.
Starfish.
Puffins and terns.
Three small rocks.
Cannon Beach, Clatsop County, Oregon, United States
Its base at low tide; climbing is not allowed.
Low tide for the pools, sunset for photos.