Point Reyes
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Point Reyes is a prominent cape on the Pacific coast of northern California in the United States. It is located in Marin County approximately 30 mi (48 km) WNW of San Francisco. The term is often applied to the Point Reyes Peninsula, the promontory bounded from Tomales Bay on the northeast and Bolinas Lagoon on the southwest. The headland is protected as part of Point Reyes National Seashore.
The cape protects Drakes Bay on its southern side. The headland is largely drained by Drakes Estero. Inverness Ridge runs along the peninsula's northwest-southeast spine, with forested peaks around 430 meters (1,400 feet). West of the ridge, the land flattens out and the vegetation turns to scrub. The Mount Vision Fire in 1995 burned part of Inverness Ridge.
The peninsula is a popular recreational destination for the nearby San Francisco Bay Area, especially for hiking on its many trails and sea kayaking the shores of Tomales Bay and the coast.
Vegetation native to Point Reyes includes Bishop pine, Douglas-fir, coyote brush, monkeyflower, poison oak, California blackberry, salal and coast redwood, among others.
During the Cold War, submarines repaired at Mare Island Naval Shipyard were tested in the shallow waters off Point Reyes following shipyard repairs. Navy safety personnel used a small monitoring and communications hut on the peninsula for monitoring submarines during these sea trials.
Point Reyes Lighthouse was used as the radio station for Antonio Bay in the John Carpenter film "The Fog".
Point Reyes lends its name to the town of Point Reyes Station, California.
[edit] External links
- National Park Service site on Point Reyes National Seashore
- Point Reyes Webcams
- Mare Island's submarine sea trials
- Point Reyes National Seashore: Resources for Outdoor Enthusiasts
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