Penn Cove Perspective EarthCache
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The coordinates should lead you to three informational signs on Coupeville's historic public wharf. From this vantage point, you are standing above the waters of Penn Cove, and can also see Saratoga Passage off in the distance. On a clear day, you should be able to see the spectacular snowcapped Mt. Baker on the northeast horizon.
The Formation of Penn Cove
About 20,000 years ago, glaciers overran Whidbey and Camano Islands, gouging both islands with parallel, north-south hills and valleys. After the northern glaciers retreated, geologists believe another ice flow from the east advanced over central Whidbey Island, scooping out Penn Cove and leaving a younger set of northeast-southwest landforms on north and central Whidbey.
Present Day Glacial Activity
Glaciers continue to affect life in Penn Cove to this day. Can you see Mt. Baker commanding the horizon to the northeast? Glacial melt water from this mountain drains into the Skagit River and flows downstream to Skagit Bay and across to Penn Cove. This fresh water in Penn Cove dilutes its salinity. The Olympic Mountains to the west capture moisture from approaching storm clouds, leaving Penn Cove with some of the sunniest skies and lightest rainfall in northwest Washington. This combination of geology, fresh water inflow and sunlight creates an ideal nutrient soup that is perfect for growing plankton, the base of the marine food chain.
Life in Penn Cove
Many life forms benefit from the ideal conditions of Penn Cove. Gray whales visit Penn Cove nearly every spring, from March through early June, and can be observed from this wharf and from beaches to the east and west. The Gray whales feed by scooping up mouthfuls of the muddy bottom, and then filtering out ghost shrimp. Bivalves, such as clams, oysters, scallops and mussels, filter plankton directly from the seawater. You might be able to see some of the elongated, blue mussels attached to this pier's pilings. There are also many other plants and animals that can be observed in Penn Cove from Coupeville's historic old grain wharf.
To log this earthcache, please email me (through my gc.com profile) the answers to the following questions. You will be able to find the information at the informational signs along the wharf and from your own observations. Once you've sent the email, go ahead and log your find without waiting for a reply from me. I will contact you if there are any problems with your log entry. (It is difficult to keep track of log entries when there is a substantial gap in time between the email and the log entry, so please send the email and then log the cache at the same time.)
1. How thick was the glacier that covered Whidbey Island 20,000 years ago?
2. How far away are the present-day glaciers of Mt. Baker?
3. What other plant or animal not already mentioned in this cache page can also be seen in Penn Cove?
4. Optional (but appreciated): Post photos of yourself on the wharf with the view of Penn Cove, Coupeville, or Mt. Baker. Please be sure to not reveal any answers to the questions in your photographs.
Sources:
Island County Marine Resources Committee
Shore Stewards
WSU Beach Watchers
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)