From Hell's Canyon to the ghost forests of Copalis, the Evergreen State contains places of spectacular and utterly unique beauty. However, there's a natural wonder in Washington that I bet you've never heard of. Scientists say that the emerald-green Olympic Peninsula rainforest may contain the quietest place in America.
If you were going to find the country's quietest place, it would make sense to find it in the Peninsula's Hoh Rainforest. This iconic Washington spot is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of just a few places worldwide where high precipitation coexists with a temperate climate.
Paradoxically, however, this otherworldly beauty attracts bevies of tourists — around three million annually. These visitors bring noise, which can impact the fragile habitat.
The mission to find America's quietest places arose through the conservation work of Emmy Award-winning acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton. Called "One Square Inch of Silence," his project uses decibel readings to identify areas with practically zero noise pollution.
Hempton hopes that identifying the country's quietest places will help people see quiet as a natural resource worth protecting. The same hopes informed the creation of America's national parks, where the public was encouraged to appreciate nature for its beauty, not just its utility. In the Hoh Rainforest, this quiet spot is left intentionally non-descript, only marked by a small, red pebble.
Silence may be intangible, but its disappearance has very real effects on people and the environment. Drawing visitors' attention to this tranquil spot encourages hikers to make less noise, reducing their impact on the surrounding habitat.
Of course, even if tourists are quiet, there's still a lot to hear in the Olympic National Park. This is a key feature of the One Square Inch project. By reducing anthropogenic noise, hikers can experience the sounds of water, wind, and wildlife, all of which are proven to improve human health.
There are only 11 similar "quiet zones" in the United States, and the Hoh Rainforest's One Square Inch is the quietest of them all. But this peace requires protection. Though most visitors respect the project's mission, some don't. Despite protests, the US Navy conducts training in the airspace above. Keeping this place and others like it free of noise pollution will require continued effort from those who believe quiet is worth fighting for.
One Square Inch of Silence is a natural wonder in Washington that deserves more attention. I recommend visiting it yourself! All you need is a pair of hiking shoes and an appreciation for nature's solitude.
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