World’s Largest Sea Caves: Home to Steller Sea Lions: Sea Lion caves are located 11 miles north of Florence on the way to Newport along the Pacific Ocean at the Oregon Coast of USA. Reported as the worlds largest sea caves by Guinness book of records offers an awe-inspiring view of the sea lions in their natural habitat. The caves reveal an eye capturing view of natural coastal geomorphology and faunal life. These caves are the home to one of the endangered species: Steller sea lions.The cave was first discovered in 1880 by William Cox. After thousands of years of coastal ocean water surge the caves have been carved out in the cliffs. It is reported that the cave are about 25 million years old and made up of basalt rock. The cave is now accessed by an elevator which goes 208 feet deep into the cave. The elevator was completed in 1961 and reaches the cave in 50 seconds without which the access to such a cave for public would not have been possible. Before the elevator was built, the cave was accessible by a 1500-foot trail.
Steller Sea Lions: The sea lion is named after George Wilhelm Steller, an eminent German naturalist who accompanied the Danish explorer Vitus Bering in 1741 on his second Alaskan expedition. Steller was the first qualified observer to study and classify these animals. The Steller sea lion (Eumetopias Jubata) is a member of the Otariidae family, or eared seal. It is characterized by an external ear which can be closed when entering water and by hind feet or flippers that point forward, have a uniform color and are large. In contrast, Phocidae, or true seals, are smaller, have a spotted coat, have no external ears, just a hole on each side of their head and its rear flippers point backward. They are warm blooded pinniped (feather-footed) mammals. Their pelvic bone structure allows independent use of their flippers, and therefore, they can walk on their four web-like flippers which contain the same bony structure as the legs of land animals. In the water, the Steller sea lion swims by using a breast stroke and may reach a top speed of 17 M.P.H. Sea lions are carnivorous. Their skulls are similar to those of bears and their jaws contain sharp teeth much like those found in dogs, cats, and other flesh eaters.
Adult animals are lighter in color than most sea lions, ranging from pale yellow to tawny and occasionally reddish. Females tend to be slightly lighter than the males. Steller sea lion pups are born almost black, weighing around 23 kg and remain dark for several months. Females and males both grow rapidly until the fifth year, after which female growth slows down considerably, attaining on average 2.5 m in length and 300 kg. Males have wider chests, fore body and neck and weigh about 600-1100 kg. The average life span of these animals is believed to be about 20 years. Commonly live on the offshore islands and rocks of British Columbia and Alaska. Stellers also live along the California coast and about one thousand reside in Oregon Waters. They are found from the central California coast, north to the Bering Sea and back south into northern Japanese waters.Steller sea lion and cave: Sea Lion Caves, home of wild Steller sea lions, has been called 'The treasure of the Oregon Coast'. The number of Steller sea lions in the Sea Lion Caves area varies from season to season and from year to year with the herd averaging about 200 animals. The area is called as hauling area due to the roaring sound made by the sea lions in the cave.
They move in the caves in harsh weather and rough seas. Sea lions gather in this natural amphitheater, usually during fall and winter. In spring and summer, they breed and have their young on rock ledges just outside the cave. Sea lions female and juvenile of both the sexes are found in caves year round whereas the adult males are found from May to August. Males arrive in the rockeries and defend their breeding territories. The best territory is held by the most powerful bulls. Sea lions use this cave as a habitat to protect from any external danger. They face the biggest threat from killer whale; in such a situation they climb up the rocky ledges to escape the attack of whales. The major diet of sea lions is bottom fish such as skate, small sharks, squid and various species of rock fishes especially Pollock. The sea lion in the caves are protected by Oregon law and never legally hunted either for trophy or sport.
For details visit: http://www.sealioncaves.com/
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