Subscribe Now

travelers today

Home » Destination

This National Park Is Believed To Be The Quietest Place In The US

Travelers Today       By    MJ De Castro

Updated: Jun 17, 2018 07:08 AM EDT

Text Size: A A A

The world is getting alarmingly noisier each day that even a one-square-inch area of silence is now being fought hard to preserve.

Located in the Hoh Rainforest in the heart of Washington Olympic National Park lies a research project is dedicating itself to the protection of a One Square Inch of Silence from threats of noise pollution. This is a problem that is highly prevalent in the United States's current environmental landscape.

'One Square Inch of Silence' Project

A tiny red pebble found on top of a mossy log marks the location of America's quietest place, two hours away from visitor's center along the Hoh River Trail. Usually hiked in two hours, acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton was actively looking for the world's quietest places for a time when he found the area.

The search came after he had regained his ability to hear, and his experience of loss was what encouraged him to become an active protector of quietude. The pebble's placement easily marked the beginning of the One Square Inch of Silence project.

Not Entirely Quiet

Make no mistake, however. This square-inch quiet place isn't exactly "soundless." The OSI is a very rare place where there can be an absence of human-made noise for up to 20 minutes at a time.

In the "One Square Inch of Silence," one can actually still hear their surroundings, but those are mostly just natural sounds of the environment.

This project aims that people shall realize how natural sounds have the ability to connect them to nature. By listening to its sound, one can experience true silence and eventually inner peace, beneath all the man-made noise that continuously dominate his or her hearing.

The rationale behind the project lies in comparison to how loud noises emitted by a single aircraft can travel many square miles. An application of the same logic, protecting even just one-square-inch of a natural place, emits a positive impact that can also radiate many miles around it.

Increasing Threats

The Olympic National Park is known as one of the most pristine and untouched areas in the country. It is far from the noise of commercial flight paths and any other kind of human intrusions.

Its establishment has allowed the preservation of Washington's natural and geologic history, as protected and administered by the U.S. National Park Service. However, as the OSI currently lobbies for Olympic National Park to become the country's first "Quiet Park," where tourists and stargazers can enjoy an unpolluted view of the starry sky, Gordon Hempton, founder of the project, said that there are increasing threats to its quietude.

In a report by Lonely Planet, he said that the iconic landmark is currently being threatened by the heightened activities brought about by a nearby Naval Air Base and the constant expansion of Seattle-Tacoma airport.

With his own past efforts, such as successfully lobbying for airlines to reroute their flights, Hempton now hopes for a legislation that can officially protect it from these disruptions and ultimately, from noise pollution.

Quiet places like this beg protection to maintain its natural silence and failure to do so would cause the complete demise of one of the most important resources that both humans and animals need. Without adequate protection, silence could be for naught in the next 10 years, not only affecting man's relationship with nature but also with himself.

Finding Inner Peace

The search for inner peace is quite a challenge these days, which is why silent retreats have actually been on the rise. These retreats may not always be for the environment, but people are now rediscovering the joy in experiencing silence.

The One Square Inch of Silence project hopes that in the near future, people will eventually help protect and preserve quiet places like this themselves. With the unique experience of what is believed to be the quietest place on earth brings, it is definitely considered a must-visit destination for travelers.

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018

Tags
washington, ecology, park
© 2023 Traverlers Today, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Join Our Conversation

Subscribe to our newsletter

Receive the latest travel news, reviews, and more..

Most Popular

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

Planning for a trip takes some time, even if it's just you g

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

If you have never traveled before but are thinking of doing so then

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

So there are a few islands that can be found off the Sco

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

You need to know how to plan appropriately and

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

A campus visit's significance could not be overstated. After all, fo

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

Having a gallery wall brings plenty of benefits to your

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

There is something equally relaxing and invigorati

Photo by Erik Odiin on Unsplash

Things That Will Help Cost-Conscious Vacationers Save Money

There are several ways you can significan

Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels

How to Make Vet Visits Affordable in 2022

If the situation is minor, you might be lucky and get away

Photo by Tim Samuel from Pexels

Know Your Florida Driving Rules

There is so much to do in the region, but we want to focus on some of

Photo by Ging Ang from Pexels

Holidaying in your own Country: Try these Fun Trips!

Many countries are opening their borders, but if

Photo by Jessica Lewis Creative from Pexels

The Best Tech Tools for Expats

Here’s a quick look at most versatile tech tools for expats on the m

Photo by Tobi from Pexels

How to Turn a Road Trip Into A Luxury Adventure

But a road trip doesn’t have to mean living on the

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Do you want to become a citizen of Australia

Hair transplant Istanbul: Why is it so popular?

Hair Transplant Istanbul: Why is it so Popular?

Getting a hair transplant in Istanbul is affordable i

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

They are incredibly expensive, and they’re also in sh

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

International trade holds great importance in a

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

Riesling is Germany’s best-known wine, but the country makes other fi

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

There is nothing like the great outdoors –– natureâ€

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

Who knew you could pack your entire life away into one litt

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

San Diego is a magnificent place, and it would not be

travelers today

© 2023 TRAVELERS TODAY All rights reserved.

Subscribe to our newsletter
Real Time Analytics