A Nature Preserve For The Quiet Of Nature

A salmon-colored rock marks the spot of the One Square Inch project, which tries to preserve the most pristine soundscape in the contiguous United States. Amanda Castleman ©

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If you're looking for silence here in the U.S., you might want to visit "One Square Inch of Silence." It's a spot inside the Hoh Rain Forest in Washington State's Olympic National Park. Acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton created it, as part of his life mission to record the sound of silence.

Amanda Castleman ©
A salmon-colored rock marks the spot of the One Square Inch project, which tries to preserve the most pristine soundscape in the contiguous United States. Amanda Castleman ©

The Square Inch of Silence lies up the Hoh River Trail, but remains unmarked to discourage traffic. Turn left at the big cedar. <em>Amanda Castleman©</em>

Amanda Castleman©
The Square Inch of Silence lies up the Hoh River Trail, but remains unmarked to discourage traffic. Turn left at the big cedar. Amanda Castleman©

An elk at the Hoh River Trail campground in the Olympic National Park, wintertime. <em>Amanda Castleman©</em>

Amanda Castleman©
An elk at the Hoh River Trail campground in the Olympic National Park, wintertime. Amanda Castleman©

Epiphytes abound in the temperate rainforests of the Olympic National Park, Washington State, USA. <em>Amanda Castleman©</em>

Amanda Castleman©
Epiphytes abound in the temperate rainforests of the Olympic National Park, Washington State, USA. Amanda Castleman©

The moss-shrouded old growth trees may steal the show, but look closer: moss and tiny epiphytes also flourish in the temperate rainforest. <em>Amanda Castleman©</em>

Amanda Castleman©
The moss-shrouded old growth trees may steal the show, but look closer: moss and tiny epiphytes also flourish in the temperate rainforest. Amanda Castleman©

Hiking the Hoh River Trail on almost the darkest day of the year. <em>Amanda Castleman©</em>

Moss and lichen shroud the temperate rainforest in the Olympic National Park. <em>Amanda Castleman©</em>

A winter sunset, while wilderness camping up the Hoh River Trail, Olympic National Park. <em>Amanda Castleman©</em>

Amanda Castleman©
A winter sunset, while wilderness camping up the Hoh River Trail, Olympic National Park. Amanda Castleman©

The temperate rainforest invites winter hikers to the Hoh River Trail in the Olympic National Park, Washington, USA. <em>Amanda Castleman©</em>

Amanda Castleman©
The temperate rainforest invites winter hikers to the Hoh River Trail in the Olympic National Park, Washington, USA. Amanda Castleman©

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A Nature Preserve For The Quiet Of Nature

Gordon Hempton

Amanda Castleman