HOMER SPIT

The 'Homer Spit' is a geographical landmark located in Homer, Alaska on the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula. The "Spit", as it is referred to in the area, is a 4.5 mile long piece of land jutting out into Kachemak Bay. About Homer The Spit is also home to the Homer Boat Harbor. The Harbor contains both deep and shallow water docks and serves up to 1500 commercial boats at its summer peak. Along with this, the Spit houses a fishing hole, campgrounds, hotels, and restaurants including the Salty Dawg Saloon. Hundreds of eagles also gather there in winter to be fed by Jean Keene, the "Eagle Lady".^[1] The Spit features the longest road into ocean waters in the entire world, taking up 10-15 minutes to cover by car. The Homer Spit

Contents

History

Potential threats

External Links

References

History

Two different theories postulate that the Spit originates either from the tidal swells and currents of Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay over a millennia of sand buildup, or that it was pushed into place by now-retreated glaciers. In 1899, the Cook Inlet Coal Fields Company built a laid a railroad track along the spit, connecting the docks to the coal fields along Kachemak Bay. The resulting business led to the development of what eventually became Homer, Alaska.^[2] In the 1960s, several hippies, known as "spit rats" traveled from all around to camp on the Homer Spit, many of them becoming successful commercial fisherman over time.^[3] A 1964 earthquake shrunk it to 508 acres, and killed most of the vegetation, making it today more gravelly than vegetative.

Potential threats

The spit sits at about 19 feet above sea level, making it susceptible to storm surge. The Army Corp of Engineers has stated that a 100-year storm could bring waves to 30 foot heights, endangering whoever may be on it at the time. Tsunamis are also a known threat. An explosion from the nearby Augustine Volcano could bring a giant wave to the Spit within minutes, giving residents very little time to react. However, most tsunamis from other areas in the ocean would probably give Spit-dwellers enough time to get to safety, due to the Tsunami Warning Center. Erosion of the Spit has also been a developing problem over the years, as the ocean side is exposed to heavy waves.^[4]

External Links

★ Homer Spit Webcam

★ Boat Harbor Map

References

1. Spit Map
2. Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Bowie: Heritage Books, 1996. pg. 156 ISBN 0788405799
3. Wohlforth, Charles P. ''Frommer's Alaska 2005''. Frommers:(November 2004). pg. 248 ISBN 978-0-7645-7962-2
4. Mason, Owen et.al. Living with the Coast of Alaska. Durham: Duke University Press, 1997. pgs. 210-211. ISBN 0822320193