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The ecosystem of the Olympic peninsula is strikingly diverse, with five species of animal and 8 species of plant native to the area. The Roosevelt elk, which is native to the Olympic peninsula, are a major attraction in the park. Numbering from five to seven thousand in number and weighing up to 300 kg., they are the largest watipi in America. Other common wildlife include golden eagles, bald eagles, raccoon, coyote, mountain beaver, crow, snowshoe hare, Rocky Mountain goat, and black bear. |
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In the park there are sections of temperate rain forest. Although they are not the same kind of forests as those of the Amazon, they still count as rain forests because of the amount of rain they get- about 2.5 to 3.4 m of rain each year. Common trees include stika spurce and western hemlock, which can grow to enormous height and circumference-the largest reaching 90 meters high and 7 meters wide. Douglas fir, red cedar, bigleaf maple, and black cottonwood are also common. Forest floor plants grow wherever there's room, even if it's on other plants. More than 100 types of wildflowers populate the park, such as bluebells, shown here. Other common plants include the sword fern, sorrel, and bracken fern. |
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