Hoh Rainforest, Protected temperate rainforest in Olympic Peninsula, Washington, United States.
The Hoh Rainforest is a protected area within Olympic National Park where Sitka spruce and western hemlock grow up to 95 meters (312 feet) tall. The trunks of these trees can reach diameters of 7 meters (23 feet) and rise through layers of thick green moss.
The valley formed thousands of years ago when glaciers carved through the landscape and created space for this rainforest to grow. Later, the area became part of Olympic National Park, which protects it from logging.
The name comes from the Quileute people, whose term Ohalet describes how fast the nearby river moves through the landscape. This word fits a place where water is always present, flowing through streams, moss, and mist.
The two main trails, Hall of Mosses at 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) and Spruce Nature Trail at 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles), are well marked and wind through the heart of the forest. Sturdy footwear is recommended because paths are often wet and slippery.
More than 3.2 meters (129 inches) of rain fall here each year, making this region the wettest in the contiguous United States. Temperatures swing from minus 11 degrees Celsius (12 degrees Fahrenheit) in winter to 34 degrees Celsius (94 degrees Fahrenheit) in summer.
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