A-Ka-Lat (James Island ), La Push, Washington State USA (Tsunami Advisory Area)

Описание: James Island (A-Ka-Lat), just off the coast of La Push in Washington State’s stunning Cascadia Bioregion, is a striking sea stack that rises steeply from the Pacific and plays an important cultural role for the Quileute Tribe. While the island itself is closed to the public, it creates a dramatic backdrop for visitors exploring First Beach and the surrounding coastline. This low-lying coastal area sits within a known tsunami hazard zone due to the nearby Cascadia Subduction Zone, so travelers are encouraged to stay aware of local alerts and know the quickest routes to higher ground while enjoying the rugged scenery.

A-Ka-Lat, also known as James Island, is a steep, forested sea stack at the mouth of the Quillayute River, directly offshore from La Push on Washington’s outer Pacific coast in the broader Cascadia bioregion. It rises roughly 150–160 feet above sea level, is culturally sacred to the Quileute people, and today is closed to the public but highly visible from First Beach and the village of La Push.

Cultural and Ecological Significance

The Quileute name A-Ka-Lat translates to “Top of the Rock,” reflecting its prominence as a landmark and spiritual place for the tribe. Historically it hosted a village, burials, and community uses, and it remains an important cultural symbol and gathering emblem for the Quileute Nation.

The surrounding waters support rich marine life, including salmon, cod, sea otters, seals, sea lions, and migrating gray whales, making La Push a key node for coastal ecology and wildlife viewing along the Olympic coast.

Geomorphology and Setting in Cascadia

A-Ka-Lat was once connected to the mainland but became a true island when river engineering altered the mouth of the Quillayute River, leaving it as a sea stack just offshore of First Beach.Its rocky cliffs and elevation provide some natural high ground relative to the very low-lying beaches and river mouth of La Push.

La Push and A-Ka-Lat sit on the outer edge of the Cascadia subduction zone margin, part of the larger Cascadia bioregion that stretches from northern California through Oregon, Washington, and into British Columbia, where the oceanic plates subduct beneath North America and generate large earthquakes and tsunamis.

Tsunami Hazard and Timing at La Push

The main tsunami threat here is a great earthquake on the Cascadia subduction zone (often modeled as around magnitude 9), which can rapidly displace the seafloor and send a series of large waves toward the outer Washington coast. State modeling for the Olympic Peninsula shows that at La Push the first significant tsunami wave from such an event could arrive roughly within 10 minutes after strong shaking begins, with wave crests on the outer coast exceeding about 30 feet (around 9 meters) in some locations.

Because La Push sits directly on the open Pacific rather than deep inside Puget Sound, there is very little natural warning time beyond the earthquake shaking itself, so immediate evacuation to high ground is essential once a strong, long-lasting quake is felt.

Elevation, Refuge, and Evacuation Considerations

Low-lying areas around First Beach, the river mouth, and much of the village are exposed to tsunami inundation and to land subsidence that can allow water to flood inland even before the main wave arrives. A-Ka-Lat’s elevation would theoretically make it safer than the surrounding beach, but access is restricted and the cliffs are extremely steep, so it is not treated as a practical or public evacuation site.

Community planning in coastal Washington emphasizes moving quickly on foot to designated tsunami assembly areas on higher bluffs or engineered vertical-evacuation structures where available, rather than trying to stay near the shoreline or on informal high spots with difficult access. For detailed local routes and safe zones around La Push and A-Ka-Lat, residents and visitors are advised to follow posted evacuation signs, consult tribal and county hazard maps, and participate in local preparedness programs.

Pacific Northwest nature
Cascadia Bioregion
Washington State