
Peter Kalm - Cape Henlopen, Delaware, United States
Posted by:
Hikenutty
N 38° 47.748 W 075° 05.573
18S E 491934 N 4294120
Quick Description: Peter Kalm, a student of Linnaeus, visited America in 1748 and kept a journal about his studies in North America. On September 14th, 1748 he writes about Cape Henlopen on the Delaware Bay.
Location: Delaware, United States
Date Posted: 6/23/2008 2:53:12 PM
Waymark Code: WM41EW
Views: 9
Long Description:Peter Kalm, a student of Linnaeus, visited America in 1748 and kept
a journal about his studies on the continent. On September 14th,
1748 he writes about Cape Henlopen on the Bay of Delaware. The
following is from his book, "Travels in North America":
We saw land on our larboard in the west, which appeared to
be low, white, sandy, and higher up the country, covered with
firs. Cape Hinlopen is a head of land running into the sea from
the western shore and has a village on it. The eastern shore
here belongs to New Jersey, and the western to Pennsylvania.
The Bay of Delaware has many sands and from four to eleven
fathom water."
Cape Henlopen is now part of Cape Henlopen State Park
and is a sanctuary for the endangered bird, the Osprey. Much of the
shore along the point and the western shore of the cape is closed
to protect the birds' nests.
The cape is now part of the state of Delaware, but at Kalm's
time period was part of Pennsylvania, as he noted. It is beautiful
and peaceful on this western side. The eastern side is used by
sunbathers and families spending the day at the beach, whereas the
west side is more popular with photographers and bird watchers.