The ocean near the mouth of the Columbia River, known as the "Graveyard of the Pacific," has experienced an average of just over one shipwreck per year for the past two centuries. Part of the reason is the area's strong currents and shifting shoals, which create changing (and often unseen) hazards. A team led by WHOI senior scientist Rocky Geyer traveled there in the spring of 2013 to study the factors that cause such treacherous conditions, including a remarkable 7-knot current (pictured). (Photo by Rocky Geyer, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)
Text, images, graphics and other material contained on this website are subject to copyright. For more information or to license material, please contact the WHOI Media Relations Office, media@whoi.edu or (508) 289-3340.
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is dedicated to research and education to advance understanding of the ocean and its interaction with the Earth system, and to communicating this understanding for the benefit of society. Learn more »
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Vimeo
YouTube
LinkedIn
RSS Feeds
