Point Reyes National Seashore

Point Reyes National Seashore (rā'is) [key], 71,068 acres (28,772 hectares), W Calif.; est. 1962. Included in the area are steep bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, lagoons, and esteros enclosed by sand dunes, rolling hills, and forests. On offshore rocks are bird rookeries and sea-lion herds. The San Andreas fault passes through the park; there is a 15 to 20 ft (4.6–6.1 m) horizontal displacement of rock (a result of the 1906 earthquake). Sir Francis Drake probably stopped there (1579) to repair his ship, the Golden Hind, before crossing the Pacific Ocean. See National Parks and Monuments (table).

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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