Whale Cove (Oregon)

[3] British amateur historian Bob Ward first proposed in 1998 that Whale Cove was the location where Francis Drake spent portion of the summer of 1579 careening his boat during his circumnavigation undertaking.

Ward proposed Whale Cove as the actual spot of Drake's landing based on its similarity to a 16th-century map made by Jodocus Hondius.

Over the last 430 years the direct force of the prevailing ocean waves and possible subduction from the 1700 earthquake has reduced this reef, but whether it was a rocky inlet just above sea level in Drake's day and drawn on the Portus illustration can only be conjectured.

Though it was frequently used by smugglers to bring in Canadian whiskey during prohibition, Whale Cove is not considered a usable bay in most seasons, though in summer it can be calm with few breakers.

[8][9] Whale Cove was once known as Bootlegger Bay for being "small and dangerous for mariners", therefore "perfect for rumrunners smuggling Canadian whiskey into the Northwest".