Bays
Park geography
Mapped boundaries, coastal terrain, and marine environment classification data.
Detailed Geographic Profile of Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary in Washington State
Analyze the spatial data and geographic characteristics defining the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. This profile covers the marine protected area boundary encompassing 8260 square kilometers, featuring diverse coastal terrain including beaches, bays, and rocky landmarks throughout the region.
A protected Pacific stretch off Washington's Olympic Peninsula, rich in marine life and shared with tribal nations.
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary is a federally protected marine area along the outer coast of Washington's Olympic Peninsula. Designated in 1994 and administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it shields a wide band of the Pacific Ocean extending westward from the shoreline, including productive continental shelf waters and dramatic submarine canyon systems. The sanctuary is notable not only for its ecological richness but also for its unusual governance model, in which federal stewardship is shared with the National Park Service and four coastal tribal nations. Its waters lie adjacent to the rugged, forested shoreline of Olympic National Park and overlap several national wildlife refuges that protect offshore rocks and seabird nesting habitat. Together, these overlapping jurisdictions create one of the most intensively protected coastal-marine corridors in the continental United States. The region combines cold, upwelling-driven Pacific ecosystems with strong tidal exchange, deep submarine canyons, and remote outer-coast islands, supporting seabirds, marine mammals, and an exceptionally diverse invertebrate community. Beyond its ecological role, the sanctuary holds deep significance for the Hoh, Quileute, Makah, and Quinault peoples, whose traditional ties to the sea long predate modern conservation designations. Education, research, tribal co-stewardship, and public engagement all form central parts of the sanctuary's mission, alongside the protection of one of North America's most distinctive temperate marine environments.
- Location
- United States of America
- Park type
- Marine protected area
- Established
- 1994
- Area
- 8,260 km²
Location overview
Protected area memberships and regional administrative status in the United States
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Geographic Overview in Washington
Recorded country and regional memberships place Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary within Washington in the United States. Administrative records confirm its coastal and marine protected status without transboundary classifications.
- Countries
- United States of America
- Regions
- Washington
- Primary location
- Washington
- Geographic setting
- Coastal · Marine
Boundary and coordinates
Marine area and perimeter with spatial context
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary mapped boundary facts
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary has mapped geometry for geographic rather than legal-survey use. Its facts preserve matching 8,260 km² overall and marine areas plus a 261.5 km perimeter, with available centre, limits, and spans.
- Boundary area
- 8,256 km²
- Boundary perimeter
- 261.5 km
- Northernmost point
- 48.5059° N
- Southernmost point
- 47.1292° N
- Easternmost point
- 124.1902° W
- Westernmost point
- 125.6817° W
- Geographic centre
- 47.8228° N, 124.8836° W
- North–south span
- 153.1 km
- East–west span
- 111.7 km
Terrain and natural features
Catalog of recorded coastal landforms, beaches, and streams
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Terrain and Named Features
Recorded natural features include beaches, streams, capes, and islands situated within the protected marine boundary. Linked feature cards supply type classifications, names, and spatial relationships for each recorded coastal landmark.
Selected named natural features
Capes
Toleak Point
Rock formations
Kalaloch Rocks
0 m
Streams
Jackson Creek
Islands
Two Man Rock
0 m
Streams
Scott Creek
Environmental setting
Temperate marine habitats, coastal beaches, and dominant water presence
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Environmental Settings and Classifications
Recorded landscape features and temperate climate zones provide complementary ways to examine the physical setting of Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Connected data categories link specific habitat classifications to related atlas destinations across the protected marine territory.
- Climate
- Temperate
- Water
- Water-dominated
- Seasonality
- Year-round
Landscape features
Coast · Beach
Habitat types
Coastal habitat · Marine habitat
Park atlas
Compare adjacent coastal marine reserves and connected regional protected landscapes
Parks Near Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary And Surrounding Protected Areas
Browse nearby national parks and protected areas sharing the rugged marine geography of Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Expanding the geographic comparison reveals connected coastal habitats and adjacent wilderness corridors across the Pacific Northwest.
National parkWashington
Park boundaries overlap#1 closest
East
Olympic National Park National Park: Geographic Atlas and Protected Landscape Discovery
Explore its unique Washington landscape and mapped protected areas.
Olympic National Park serves as a key protected area within Washington, offering rich opportunities for geographic exploration. This detail page provides essential context on its designation as a national park, its mapped boundaries, and its contribution to the regional geography. Understand the park's specific landscape character and its role within the atlas of protected lands, facilitating a structured approach to discovering its natural terrain and geographic significance.
- Area
- 3,733.8 km²
- Established
- 1938
- IUCN
- II
- Visitors
- 3.7M annual
National parkBritish Columbia
9.6 km away#2 closest
North
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve: National Park Protected Landscape & Map Atlas
Mapped boundaries and regional geographic context in British Columbia.
Pacific Rim National Park Reserve stands as a distinct protected natural landscape, serving as a critical component of Canada's national park inventory. This page facilitates an atlas-style exploration of its mapped boundaries and its position within the broader geography of British Columbia. Understanding the park's protected status and its integration with the surrounding natural terrain offers valuable insight into conservation landscapes.
- Area
- 511 km²
- Established
- 1970
- IUCN
- VI
- Visitors
- 1.2M annual
Protected landscapeWashington
11 km away#3 closest
East
Olympic National Forest: Atlas and Geographic Overview of Washington Protected Lands
Temperate rainforests, alpine ridges, and fjord shorelines
Olympic National Forest defines the outer reaches of the Olympic Mountains, featuring a massive expanse of old-growth conifers and high-precipitation temperate rainforests. This protected area connects diverse ecosystems ranging from the brackish waters of Hood Canal to rugged, snow-dusted subalpine ridges. Our detailed geographic mapping highlights the forest's role as a vital buffer and wilderness corridor within the broader Pacific Northwest landscape.
- Area
- 2,541.89 km²
- Established
- 1897
- Relief
- Mountain
- Climate
- Temperate
Wildlife reserveWashington
75 km away#4 closest
Southeast
Mount Skokomish Wilderness: Ridge Systems and Alpine Geography in Washington State
Exploration of a protected Olympic Peninsula mountain landscape.
Mount Skokomish Wilderness protects a dramatic stretch of the eastern Olympic Mountains defined by steep ridges and glacial basins. The area serves as a critical headwaters region and offers a dense display of peaks and old-growth forest transitions across its varied elevation profile, providing essential landscape context for the region.
- Area
- 53.79 km²
- Established
- 1984
- IUCN
- Ib
- Relief
- Mountain
Nature reserveBritish Columbia
About 83 km away#5 closest
East
Race Rocks Ecological Reserve: Protected Marine Landscape and Island Geography
Nature reserve in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, British Columbia
Race Rocks Ecological Reserve is a geographically distinct protected area consisting of low-lying rocky islets and surrounding high-current marine waters. Located in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the reserve is recognized for its intense tidal mixing, which supports productive food webs and diverse marine mammals. This site provides a vital window into the ecological dynamics of the Pacific coast through its role as a dedicated research and conservation zone.
- Area
- 2.27 km²
- Established
- 1980
- IUCN
- Ia
- Relief
- Lowland
State or regional parkBritish Columbia
88 km away#6 closest
North
Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park: Regional Protected Landscape and Atlas Geography
River canyon and mountain lake habitat in British Columbia
Explore the structured geography of Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park, a protected area characterized by its sequence of dramatic river cascades and old-growth Douglas Fir stands. This entry maps the park's key natural features, including the Cameron Lake shoreline and the rugged canyon terrain of the Little Qualicum River.
- Area
- 4.4 km²
- Established
- 1940
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Mountain
State or regional parkBritish Columbia
88 km away#7 closest
North
Englishman River Falls Provincial Park: Regional Geography and Protected Area Overview
Vancouver Island river canyon and coastal forest terrain
Englishman River Falls Provincial Park protects a concentrated area of canyon scenery and old-growth forest on the eastern side of Vancouver Island. The landscape is characterized by the dramatic steps of the Englishman River, deep plunge pools, and mature cedar and hemlock stands. This geography provides an essential look at the coastal rainforest ecosystems and river-fed topography that define the recreational corridors of British Columbia.
- Area
- 0.97 km²
- IUCN
- II
- Relief
- Upland
- Access
- Easy access
State or regional parkBritish Columbia
About 88 km away#8 closest
North
MacMillan Provincial Park: Mapped Geography and Protected Forest Landscapes
Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Examine the mapped footprint of MacMillan Provincial Park, home to iconic old-growth Douglas fir trees and the Cameron River delta. This protected area serves as a biogeoclimatic transition zone, showcasing the rich, moisture-retentive coastal forest environment that defines this specific section of Vancouver Island.
- Area
- 3.01 km²
- Established
- 1947
- IUCN
- III
- Visitors
- 543.7K annual
MoriAtlas Explorer
Continue Exploring the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Protected Marine Landscape
Navigate through the mapped boundaries and geographic features of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary in Washington. Use this MoriAtlas entry to understand the interplay between the deep submarine canyons, the continental shelf, and the protected shoreline environments that define this significant temperate marine region.
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