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F I R S TP R E V954NEXTLAST

Finding Sanctuary at the Golden Gate
Just outside the Golden Gate sits the 1,380 square mile Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, the largest concentration of breeding seabirds in the contiguous U.S. As a national sanctuary, inside its boundaries there can be no oil or gas exploration and development; no discharging or depositing of any substance; no flights below 1,000 feet; and no personal motorized watercraft, among other regulations. The Gulf of the Farallones NMS protects and provides safe habitats to all types marine life, from the White Shark to the Tufted Puffin, and including 26 endanger species known to inhabit its waters.

There are eleven National Sanctuaries in the continental U.S. and three of them are located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Along with conservation, the NMS provides education, recreation, exploration, science, and the preservation of maritime culture. The visitor center for the Gulf of the Farallones NMS (click for photos) is located on Crissy Field and is open to the public. Better yet, you can volunteer and become a NMS team member, helping to protect the ocean outside the Bay Area.
[ MAP A-6 ]


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