The Shannon Point Marine Center is located on the beautiful inland marine waters of the northern Puget Sound basin in Anacortes, Washington, approximately 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. The local marine environment is characterized by rocky islands, protected lagoons, high energy beaches, and extensive wetlands. Habitats range from rocky intertidal to deep trenches. This diversity of habitat supports a rich and diverse marine biota, including a wide variety of invertebrates, finfish, and seaweeds. There are several gull rookeries nearby and owls, hawks, and bald eagles are frequently seen.
Harbor seals are common and killer whales are present in local waters.
The Shannon Point campus includes 87 acres of Pacific lowland forest, dominated by Douglas Fir, but also including Grand Fir, Western Red Cedar, and Western Hemlock. The campus is a biological preserve that protects a sizeable small mammal and bird population. Approximately 3000 feet of cobble beach on the campus provides a natural laboratory for collection and study of intertidal organisms. Shannon Point's facilities have been designed to support a highly sophisticated undergraduate learning experience. The 12,000 sq.