We took some time out to explore the area around us. Just south of us, in the city of Newport, is the Oregon Coast Aquarium. While it is small, it has an impressive array of marine life local to the Oregon coast. You can get up close and personal with the sea lions, otters, marine birds and various animals that inhabit the tide pool area.
This guy put on quite a show for us. He walked across the viewing glass and you could get a great view of the suckers on his arms. He was HUGE!
There were several tanks filled with different species of jellyfish. You can get mesmerized by just watching them swim and drift through the water.
I believe that this guy is called a wolf eel. Like his cousin the moray, he hides in the rocks and sports an impressive set of teeth when he opens his mouth. He just looks cranky.
Ok, the crab behind me is only a drawing. But it depicts a life size example of crabs found in fossils around the area. Don't think that I would like to meet this guy while scuba diving! Wonder if the legs are good eating, though!
Near the Aquarium is the Yaquina Bay lighthouse. Now closed and restored as a tourist attraction, this lighthouse once provided a navigation beacon and warning lights to mariners off the coast of Newport. It was only in service from 1871-1874 when it was replaced by the brighter and better placed Yaquina Head lighthouse. Oh, and they say that this lighthouse is haunted!
The view out the front door of the lighthouse.
The inside of the lighthouse has been meticulously restored with period furnishings. It is quite fascinating to see how the keeper and his family lived and worked.
This is a unique piece of artwork. It is a cross decorated with delicate flowers. Upon close examination, the flowers and all of the leaves are made from human hair! It was a practice that, in order to honor the memory of loved ones who had passed, you took locks of their hair and wove them into intricate patterns or works of art. Creepy but beautiful.
No comments:
Post a Comment