Over 15,000 years
ago, the Ohlone Indians settled into the stretch of coastal area between
the San Francisco Bay and Point Sur. Because the Bay yielded such
rich sea life and hosted a wide variety of indigenous plants and game
animals, it easily provided a self-sufficient way of life for the
Ohlone.
And then the settlers came, changing both how the land was used and
by whom. Who arrived first is still unclear. By most accounts, however,
Sir Francis Drake, is credited as the first to sail into and "discover"
San Francisco Bay in 1579. The Bay wasn't adequately or officially
mapped until Juan Manuel de Ayala began doing it systematically in
1775.
San Francisco Bay's natural harbor suited it well to the commerce
it attracted. But in 1849, the year of the Gold Rush, lust for gold
grew to such epidemic proportions that ship's officers and crews abandoned
their ships carrying prospectors, leaving the vessels to sink and
rot in the Bay. This irresponsible get-rich-quick philosophy resulted
in landfill comprised of many layers of abandoned ships, which substantially
reduced the Bay's size and seriously affected its drainage. Ongoing
Bay maintenance has been a fact of life ever since.
Today, the Bay
still expedites the passage of thousands of boats for both commerce
and pleasure. Its 60-mile length qualifies it as one of the largest
bays in the world. Islands are scattered throughout: Treasure, Yerba
Buena, Angel, and Alcatraz. Though nearly landlocked, the Bay parallels
the coastline and meets the Pacific Ocean via a strait called the
Golden Gate, which is spanned by the Golden Gate Bridge.
The Bay's majestic
yet bustling presence is a sight best enjoyed from the water. As you
move through the waters, you'll appreciate the skyline, rolling hills,
and striking coastline - all in one beautiful location.
