Airborne View of Headlands and Seastacks Near Cape Meares, Oregon
September 20, 2011
Photographer: Marli Bryant Miller
Summary Author: Marli Bryant Miller
Oregon's northern coastline is underlain mostly by Cenozoic marine sedimentary rock and basalt. The basalt, which is more resistant to erosion, tends to form headlands. These headlands erode piecemeal, leaving behind seastacks as remnants of the former coastline.
This photo depicts Cape Meares as the fog-capped headland in the foreground, and the seastacks called Three Arch Rocks in the background (top center). Both these features consist of Columbia River Basalt, which erupted from fissures in what is now eastern Oregon about 16 million years ago and flowed all the way to the coast; some 225 mi (362 km) distant. In addition, Three Arch Rocks is a national wildlife refuge that protects a variety of bird species including Tufted Puffins and the Common Murre. Photo taken in July 2010.
Photo Details: Camera Maker: Canon; Camera Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark II; Lens: EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM; Focal Length: 58.0mm; Aperture: f/10.0; Exposure Time: 0.0031 s (1/320); ISO equiv: 100.