The Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary surrounds
the wind-swept peaks of the Farallones islands off of the Golden
Gate and encompasses over 1,200 square miles of open ocean and
coastal waters. These coastal waters include bays and estuaries-
from Bodega Head in Sonoma County all the way down along the San
Mateo County coast. The sanctuary is larger than the state of
Rhode Island and contains nearshore tidal flats, rocky
intertidal areas, wetlands, subtidal reefs, and coastal beaches
where a myriad of marine life flourishes in the nutrient-rich
waters. It also contains vital nursery and spawning grounds for
fish and shellfish, has thousands of seals and sea lions, and is
home to the largest concentration of breeding seabirds in the
continental U.S. This Encyclopedia is meant to provide natural
history information, video clips, still images, and additional
resources to find more information about the marine life found
within the sanctuary. We hope you find this to be a valuable
resource.