Point Lobos State Reserve
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Point Lobos State Reserve commonly referred to as simply Point Lobos is a sea side state reserve south of Monterey, California. The very precipitous drop in the ocean floor off Point Lobos (reaching levels characteristic of the mid Pacific within a few kilometres of shore) gives rise to strange tidal effects, with unusual levels of oxygen being injected into the ocean water. This in turn has attracted an unusual collection of plant and animal life, ranging from high plankton concentrations, moving up the food chain to large mammals.
Point Lobos contains a large number of hiking trails, many next to the ocean, and a smaller number of beaches. The reserve also contains a small museum in the historic Whalers Cabin. Point Lobos is one of only two places were wild Monterey Cypress can be found. The waters around Point Lobos contain extensive kelp forests. About half the reserve is under water, and can only be explored by SCUBA diving.
Landscape artist Francis McComas described Point Lobos as "the greatest meeting of land and water in the world."
[edit] Gallery
 Harbor Seal, Pt. Lobos |
 Diver and Harbor Seal, Pt. Lobos |
 Scuba diver in kelp forest |
 Blue Rockfish in kelp forest |
 Anemone and starfish in kelp forest |
 Coonstripe shrimp |
 Leopard Shark |
 Close-up of anemone |
 Sea Lemon nudibranch and sponges |
 Large Sheephead |
 Ling Cod |
 Medusa Jellyfish |
 Whalers Cabin |
 Gibson Beach |
[edit] External links
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps or MapQuest
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Microsoft Virtual Earth, or WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
 |
This California location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it and citing the source of your information. |
