![]() Some towns in Oregon’s Coast Range ecoregion include: Tillamook, Yachats, Astoria, Bandon, Cannon Beach, Elkton, Florence, Gold Beach, Lincoln City, Newport, and Waldport. Along the coastal strip, habitats are influenced by the marine environment and include beaches, estuaries, and headlands. The Coast Range includes the highest density of streams found in the state, and deciduous riparian vegetation is distinct from surrounding coniferous forests. For example, the Tillamook Burn, which is actually a series of wildfires that occurred from 1939-1951, burned approximately 350,000 acres. Large forest fires are very infrequent but are severe when they occur. Most of the ecoregion is dominated by coniferous forests. The ecoregion’s mild, moist climate creates conditions for highly productive temperate rainforests, which are important ecologically and for local economies. The Coast Range’s climate is influenced by cool, moist air from the ocean, and is the wettest and mildest in the state. Elevation varies from the ocean shoreline to Marys Peak, which is about 4,100 feet high however, main ridge summits are approximately 1,400-2,500 feet. The Coast Range ecoregion is bordered by the Nearshore ecoregion on the ocean shores and intersects it in Oregon’s estuaries. In general, the topography is characterized by steep mountain slopes and sharp ridges. The Coast Range ecoregion includes the entire reach of the Oregon coastline and extends east through coastal forests to the border of the Willamette Valley and Klamath Mountains ecoregions. ![]() It is also extremely diverse, with habitats ranging from open sandy dunes to lush forests and from tidepools to headwater streams. Oregon’s Coast Range is known for its dramatic scenery. Photo Credit: David Patte, USFWS Description Late Successional Mixed Conifer Forest within Oswald West State Park.
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