The sunken paradise: Bayocean, once blooming, now missing!

The sunken paradise: Bayocean, once blooming, now missing!

Bayocean, Oregon, USA - Bayocean, once known as the "playground of the Pacific northwest", is only a shadow of itself today. The small community on the Oregon coast only exists in memories and is often cited as an example of the dangers of overambitious urban developments. As Kosmo , the community fell victim

The story of Bayocean begins in 1906 when 19-year-old Thomas Irving Potter discovered the Tillamook Bay. Together with his father, he planned the foundation of an idyllic coastal city, which quickly became a popular holiday resort. Bayocean already had 2,000 inhabitants by 1911 and offered numerous amenities, including a glamorous hotel, tennis courts and even a cinema with 1,000 seats. Tourism formed the economic basis, which was supplemented by a canvas factory and summer houses of wealthy families.

the decay

Important infrastructural measures, such as the construction of a pier in 1917, were to make access to the city easier, but led to an ecological imbalance. opb emphasizes that the flow conditions changed and massive erosion threatened the beaches of BayOcean.

Climatic extreme situations led to devastating winter storms that further undermine the connection to the coast. In 1932 the hotel was destroyed by a storm, and the economic consequences of the stock market crash and the great depression accelerated the decay. A large part of the street and the buildings buried under sand in 1939, 1942 and 1948.

until 1952 Bayocean had become an island through a stronger storm. After the end of the post office in 1953 and the demolition of the remaining buildings in 1956, the memory of the once flowering city clearly faded. Historians like Jerry Sutherland, who examines the remains of the city and offers tours, arouse interest in this forgotten place.

A look into the future

The history of Bayocean is not only a restaurant, but also offers a larger context with regard to the challenges that coastal cities are opposite worldwide. According to information from nadr , the increase in sea level leads to an increased erosion of coastal lines, which leads to floods and the loss of living space. Low areas that suffer from the salvation of drinking water resources are particularly at risk.

The challenges for coastal cities are huge. An increase in storm floods and floods threatens the infrastructure and the loss of property values ​​is to be feared. The need for measures such as the construction of dikes and the protection of the coastal lines becomes more urgent. As a Bayocean educational case study, it shows the risks of overamitable construction projects in unstable environments and underlines the importance of sustainable planning and adaptation strategies.