Point Reyes
Point Reyes – photo copyright Michael McAreavy
Point Reyes is a prominent cape on the Pacific coast of northern California in Marin County. From its thunderous ocean breakers crashing against rocky headlands and expansive sand beaches to its open grasslands, brushy hillsides and forested ridges, Point Reyes offers visitors over 1,000 species of plants and animals to discover.
Interesting Facts:
- Incredible biodiversity! The Point Reyes peninsula hosts 45% of North America’s bird species and almost 18% of California’s plant species.
- There are over 50 species of animals at Point Reyes that are listed by the state or federal government as threatened, rare, or endangered.
- Don’t get blown away! Point Reyes is the windiest place on the Pacific Coast – the highest recorded wind speed was 133 mph!
- Don’t get lost in the fog! Point Reyes is the second foggiest place on the North American continent! Thick fog frequently reduces visibility to the hundreds of feet, especially in the summer.
- During the 1906 San Francisco earthquake the Point Reyes Lighthouse moved 18 feet in less than a minute! Big quakes like this shift Point Reyes up to 20 feet once every 130 years or so.
- In 1981, the first breeding pair of elephant seals was discovered near Chimney Rock in the Point Reyes National Seashore. Today the park is a thriving breeding ground for the once nearly extinct species.
- Over 120 known village sites of the Coastal Miwok Indians exist within the park, the first human civilization of the Point Reyes peninsula, dating back 5,000 years!
- For more information, please visit: http://www.nps.gov/pore/index.htm