F I R S TP R E V228NEXTLAST

Whale Skeleton, Marin Headlands
In the Marin Headlines lies a skeleton of one of the largest creatures that ever lived. This 72-foot long, 80 ton Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) washed up on shore off the San Francisco Bay in 1988. Every winter migrating packs of Blue, California Gray, and Humpback pass the Farallon Islands, 27 miles off the San Francisco coast. The Farallon Islands, a marine sanctuary, protect 37 types of endangered species and 400 types of sea birds. Whale watching is a very popular activity in the bay area from late fall through winter. Many people take binoculars to the Pacific cliffs to watch the whales, while others board whale watching cruises and sail amid the migrating herds.
[ MAP K-9 ]