Drakes Bay

For the bay in Costa Rica, see Drakes Bay, Costa Rica.
Drakes Bay Historic Archaeological District

2013
NRHP Reference # 12001006[1]
Added to NRHP October 10, 2012
Drakes Bay

Drakes Bay is a small bay in the Point Reyes National Seashore on the coast of northern California in the United States, approximately 30 miles (48 km) northwest of San Francisco at approximately 38 degrees north latitude.[2] The bay is approximately 8 miles (13 km) wide. It is formed on the lee side of the coastal current by Point Reyes. The portions of the bay related to Francis Drake's 1579 visit, Sebastião Rodrigues Soromenho's 1595 visit and their interactions with the Coast Miwok were designated as the Drakes Bay Historic and Archaeological District, a National Historic Landmark, on October 17, 2012.[3][4]

The bay is fed by Drake's Estero, an expansive estuary on the Point Reyes peninsula. The estuary is protected by Estero de Limantour State Marine Reserve & Drakes Estero State Marine Conservation Area. Point Reyes State Marine Reserve & Point Reyes State Marine Conservation Area lie within Drakes Bay. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.

The bay is named after Sir Francis Drake[5] and has long been considered Drake's most likely landing spot[6] on the west coast of North America during his circumnavigation of the world by sea in 1579. An alternative name for this bay is Puerto De Los Reyes.[2]

View of Drakes Bay from Drake's beach

See also

References

Coordinates: 38°0′43″N 122°55′9″W / 38.01194°N 122.91917°W / 38.01194; -122.91917

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