Sea Lion Caves, Central Oregon Coast

6. Cormorants on Rocks

On the rock outcropping below you can see many cormorants nesting on the rocks safe from predators. The ocean, sometimes wild and always wonderful, surges into and out of the cave where a herd of wild, golden Steller sea lions and their black pups take shelter. In summer during the breeding season, enormous bulls weighing up to 2000 pounds join the herd on rock ledges just outside the cave. Just 11 miles North of Florence, Sea Lion Caves is the world's largest sea cave. Formation of the cavern began about 25 million years ago. It now soars to the height of a 12-story building and stretches the length of a football field. 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.