Belvedere Lagoon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Belvedere Lagoon |
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 Belvedere Lagoon
Location in California
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| Location | Marin County, California |
| Coordinates | 37°52′37″N 122°28′03″W / 37.876871°N 122.467473°W |
| Type | Lagoon |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 66 acres (27 ha) |
| Average depth | 5 ft (1.5 m) |
| Water volume | 330 acre⋅ft (410,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 0 m (0 ft) sea level |
| Settlements | Belvedere, California |
Belvedere Lagoon is a special, man-made body of water located in Belvedere, within Marin County, California. It sits right next to the famous San Francisco Bay. This lagoon is separated from other parts of the bay, like Richardson Bay and Raccoon Strait, by narrow strips of land.
This lagoon is privately owned and cared for by the Belvedere Lagoon Property Owners' Association. Because it's private, boats from San Francisco Bay cannot enter it, and there is no public access for swimming or boating. Long ago, some houseboats used to float on Belvedere Lagoon.
History of Belvedere Lagoon
Belvedere Lagoon has an interesting history, especially how it connects to the San Francisco Bay.
The Old Passage and Drawbridge
Years ago, there was a natural opening that connected the lagoon directly to San Francisco Bay. A special bridge called a drawbridge crossed over this passage. A drawbridge can be lifted to let boats pass through.
Signaling the Boating Season
In the late 1800s, this drawbridge would be lifted twice a year. In the spring, it opened to let pleasure boats from the Corinthian Yacht Club leave the lagoon. These boats would spend the winter safely inside the lagoon and then move to their summer spots in the bay. In the fall, the bridge would open again for the boats to return to the lagoon for winter.
This lifting of the drawbridge was a big event! It signaled the start of the fun boating season.
Opening Day on the Bay
By 1917, this informal celebration grew into a more formal and exciting parade of boats. Today, this tradition has become what is known as Opening Day on the Bay. It's a huge event that involves 104 different clubs from the Pacific Inter-Club Yacht Association. It's a colorful and lively way to kick off the boating season in the San Francisco Bay area.
Changes to the Lagoon
After World War II, parts of Belvedere Lagoon were filled in. This was done to create new building spots for houses and to make it easier to get to Belvedere Island. At one point, the area where the lagoon now sits was even home to a 9-hole golf course!
