Bolinas Lagoon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Designations
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| Official name: Bolinas Lagoon | |
| Designated: | 1 September 1998 |
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| Reference #: | 960 |
Bolinas Lagoon is a special kind of bay where fresh water mixes with ocean water. It is called a tidal estuary. This lagoon is about 1,100 acres (4.5 square kilometers) in size. You can find it in Marin County, California, in the United States. It is right next to the small town of Bolinas.
Bolinas Lagoon is part of the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. This sanctuary is a protected ocean area. Some people think that Sir Francis Drake, a famous explorer, might have landed here in 1579. This was when he explored the west coast of North America.
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Where is Bolinas Lagoon?
The lagoon is like a back bay of Bolinas Bay. Bolinas Bay is on the Pacific coast. It is about 15 miles (25 kilometers) northwest of San Francisco. The lagoon sits in a long, narrow valley. This valley was made by the San Andreas Fault. This famous fault line runs right through the lagoon.
A small strip of land separates the lagoon from the main bay. This land is known as Stinson Beach. On sunny days, many people visit Stinson Beach. They come to swim, surf, and enjoy the sand. They want to escape the heat of the nearby Bay Area. State Route 1, also called the Shoreline Highway, runs along the eastern side of the lagoon.
Why is Bolinas Lagoon Important?
Bolinas Lagoon is on a special list called the Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance. This list is for wetlands that are very important for nature. The Ramsar Convention is an agreement that helps protect these wetlands.
Parts of the lagoon are protected by Marin County. They are in the Bolinas Lagoon Open Space Preserve. The western shore of the lagoon is also part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This is a large park that protects natural areas around San Francisco.
What Feeds the Lagoon?
The land area that drains into the lagoon is called its watershed. This watershed is about 16.7 square miles (43 square kilometers). Many streams and canyons flow into the lagoon. These include Audubon Canyon, McKinnan Gulch, Morses Gulch, Picher Canyon, Pike County Gulch, Stinson Gulch, Volunteer Canyon, and Wilkins Gulch. There is also an island inside the lagoon called Kent Island.
Ocean Life Near Bolinas
Just offshore from Bolinas is the Duxbury Reef State Marine Conservation Area. Think of it like an underwater park! This protected ocean area helps keep ocean wildlife safe. It also protects the important marine ecosystems that live there.
See also
In Spanish: Laguna Bolinas para niños
