Gallery USA Pacific Northwest

The Pacific coast of the USA is characterised by steep cliffs rising from a rather cool Pacific ocean. This difference in temperature leads to frequent coastal fog. This fog also feeds interesting ecosystems like the temperate rainforests of northern California, Oregon and Washington. There the impressive Sequoia trees grow, which are among the highest and most massive living things on earth.

In the east this zone is bordered by coastal ranges on which most of the moisture of the air coming from the Pacific rains down. Beyond these coastal ranges the climate is more continental, i. e. dryer, hotter in the summer and colder in the winter.

I've visited the region several times. San Francisco is a central starting point for travels along the Pacific coast, but also for travels into the coast ranges.

The Pacific coast hosts some of the most impressive natural features in the U. S., for example the coast between Monterey and Big Sur, the Point Reyes National Seashore, the Redwood National Park, the coast of Oregon and the Olympic National Park in Washington state. It's also home to some of the most scenic cities, especially San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego and Portland.