Deception Pass
Travel
Contributed by :SeattleIndian Staff
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Deception Pass is a bridge located amidst picturesque surroundings of the Pacific Northwest. This bridge connects two Islands namely Whidbey Island and Fidalgo Island. This scenic spot is a photographer's delight because it is here where they can get the best shot of Puget Sound's splendid beauty. The Deception pass bridge has two spans- north and south. Towards the north it crosses over to Canoe Pass and to the south, the Deception Pass. In earlier days when this bridge was not there travelers had no other option but to cross the pass by means of irregular ferry services. Now with the Deception Pass Bridge, traveling through the pass has become hassle-free.
How it all began
It was in August 1934 when the construction of Deception Pass Bridge was started and it took almost a year to complete it. Finally on July 31, 1935 this bridge which was made at the cost of a whopping $482,000 was declared open. The steel used to build this bridge was supplied by a company named Wallace Bridge and Structural Company of Seattle, Washington. They supplied a total of 1590 tons of steel for both the Canoe Pass arch and the Deception pass span. The length of the Canoe Pass arch is 511-foot and that of the Deception Pass span is 976-foot.
The Deception Pass Bridge was declared as a National Historic Landmark after 47 years in September 1982.
How it got its name
It was a chance discovery by Joseph Whidbey in the early part of 1792 which ultimately led to the name 'Deception'. He was the master of HMS Discovery as well as Captain Vancouver's chief navigator and once while sailing through the pass which was quite narrow at that time realized that the bay was not that small as was made to believe by Spanish sailors of that time but was deep and turbulent. The pass connected the Strait of Juan de Fuca with the Saratoga Passage.
The myriad attractions of Deception Pass
For wildlife enthusiasts Deception Pass offers majestic sights along with awesome scenery. You get to see migratory birds during winters and summers alike. This apart there are also seals, bald eagles and harbor porpoises. Sometimes if you are lucky you can see whales too.
For photographers, Deception Pass is an ideal location to shoot breathtaking photographs. In fact in the entire Washington State area this is the most prized one. One can also take a tour aboard any of those numerous open deck jet boats that ply here to learn more about Deception Pass and its surrounding area. Usually these boat tours are of one hour duration.
Deception Pass is more exciting and scenic than you would have ever imagined. Its shores as well as its waters are beckoning to be explored and its beauty shared. The scenery is well complimented by a throbbing wildlife and it is possible that while jetting through the waters you may get yourself entangled by the world's largest Pacific Octopus!
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