Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary
Location: Off the northern and central California coast
Size: 3,295 square miles
Designated: 1981 (expanded in 2015)
Habitat: Estuaries, continental shelf, islands, deep sea, open ocean, kelp forests, sandy and rocky shores
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Photos (left to right): Sara Heintzelman/NOAA; Douglas Croft/Monterey Bay Marine Life Studies, under NMSF Permit #20519; Matt McIntosh/NOAA; USGS
The California Current sweeps down the West Coast of North America from Alaska to Mexico. The cold waters carried by this current are loaded with nutrients—and these nutrients are what make Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary such an incredible place.
Reaching from south of San Francisco north to the scenic Redwood Coast, Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary protects the wildlife and habitats of one of the most diverse and bountiful marine environments in the world. It provides breeding and feeding grounds for at least 25 endangered and threatened species, 37 marine mammal species, over a quarter-million seabirds, and one of the most significant white shark populations on the planet. Here, you’ll see blue and humpback whales, seals and sea lions, dolphins, and seabirds like tufted puffins and pigeon guillemots.
The diversity of habitats in Greater Farallones means that visitors will never be at a loss for something to do. Join a day cruise for whale watching and world-class birding at the largest seabird rookery in the contiguous United States. Enjoy kayaking in a lagoon, go surfing and boogie boarding, or stroll along beaches to experience unusual geological formations and flocks of shorebirds. Explore a tide pool to discover intriguing forms of marine life amid the pounding surf!