Gulf of the Farallones facts for kids
The Gulf of the Farallones is a large area of the Pacific Ocean located off the northern coast of California. It stretches out from the entrance of the San Francisco Bay and Drakes Bay all the way to the Farallon Islands. Most of this gulf is part of the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, a special protected area that covers about 3,237 square kilometers (1,250 square miles) of ocean.
What is the Gulf of the Farallones?
The word "Farallones" comes from the Spanish word farallón, which means "sea cliff." This name refers to the rocky islands found in the area. In the past, this gulf was known by other names like Bahia De Puerto De San Francisco.
A Busy Ocean Area
The Gulf of the Farallones is an important pathway for ships. Many large ships travel through this gulf to reach major ports like the Port of San Francisco, the Port of Oakland, and the Port of Richmond. These ports are very busy places where goods are loaded and unloaded.
Protecting the Gulf's Environment
For many years, the gulf was used as a place to dispose of different materials. This included things like dirt and sand from dredging, waste from factories, old sunken ships, and even barrels containing low-level nuclear waste. Between 1946 and 1970, about 47,800 barrels of nuclear waste were placed here. For a long time, people didn't know exactly where these barrels were. However, in the 1990s, special mapping and monitoring efforts helped to locate and keep an eye on them. Today, the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary works hard to protect this important ocean environment and its wildlife.
