The Columbia River Bar, where the saltwater of the Pacific Ocean meets the mighty Columbia River's freshwater, is one of the most demanding marine crossings in the world. Winter storm waves top 50 feet, and over 2000 ships have run aground here, with 700 lives lost. The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse State Park hosts the lighthouse, which was built in 1856 to help prevent shipwrecks. However, with many ships still capsizing, North Head Lighthouse was built in 1898. With the final touches applied in May of 1898 and the addition of both jetties on the north and south mouths of the Columbia River, sediment settled in a predictable manner, making the Columbia River navigable by ship. Both lighthouses are a photographer's dream, with sweeping views of the Long Beach Peninsula, Pacific Ocean, Baker Bay, the Columbia River Bar, and parts of the Oregon Coast. To learn more about the history of the Long Beach, Washington, Coast, be sure to spend time at one of the many acclaimed museums.
