How did Tomales Bay form?

How did Tomales Bay form?

The narrow Tomales Bay and the narrow Olema Valley, along which Shoreline Highway (Highway 1) travels, overlie the San Andreas Fault and were formed as a result of tectonic forces. East of the fault lie rocks known as the Franciscan Complex, a combination of graywacke, shale, chert, serpentinite, and pillow basalt.

How was Point Reyes National Seashore formed?

Altered by heat and pressure, these metamorphic rocks are the oldest rocks in the park. Our granitic rocks began moving before the San Andreas Fault formed and docked off of Point Lobos, where several distinct layers of rock formed above it. As a result, Point Reyes has six major sedimentary formations in it.

What types of rocks are on the eastern side of Tomales Bay?

Rocks on the east side of the fault consist of Franciscan Complex, a mix of oceanic crustal rocks that formed in late Mesozoic time (Jurassic and Cretaceous) and were gradually accreted onto the North American continental margin by plate tectonic motion.

What kind of landform is Point Reyes?

The entire Point Reyes Peninsula is a piece of the Salinian Block transported northward by the San Andreas Fault. Its core is granite, unlike the terrain east of Tomales Bay. The granite rocks that form the peninsula were once continuous with the Tehachapi Mountains, which is located 350 mi (563 km) south of here.

When was Tomales Bay formed?

1603
Members of the Vizcaíno Expedition found the Bay in 1603, and thinking it a river, named it Rio Grande de San Sebastian. Early 19th-century settlements constituted the southernmost Russian colony in North America and were spread over an area stretching from Point Arena to Tomales Bay.

What is Tomales Bay known for?

Tomales Bay is known for its oysters, and there’s no better place to eat them than Hog Island Oyster Company! This is the original outpost of the famous oyster bar which is found in the San Francisco Ferry Terminal building, and there are also locations in Napa and Larkspur.

What shoreline feature separates Abbott’s lagoon from the Pacific Ocean?

Geology. Abbotts Lagoon is usually separated from the Pacific Ocean by dune sand to the west.

What kind of fish are in Tomales Bay?

Waterfowl , shorebirds, brown pelican, California clapper and black rail inhabit Tomales Bay. Fish species include striped bass, flatfishes, sculpin, walleye and other surfperch, salmon, steelhead.

Can you swim in Tomales Bay?

There are beaches along both sides of Tomales Bay. The waters are warm and calm, making the bay ideal for family swimming. On the mainland side, visit Alan Sieroty Beach, Brazil Beach, Lawson’s Landing, and Dillon Beach.

Where are the fault lines in Tomales Bay?

If you draw a line through the middle of Tomales Bay in the north through the Bolinas Lagoon on the south, this is the path of the San Andreas Fault Zone. Faults come in three types: divergent, convergent, and transform.

Where is the heart of Tomales Bay State Park?

This day-use park features multiple gently sloping, surf-free beaches, protected from winds by Inverness Ridge, the backbone of the Point Reyes Peninsula. Tomales Bay State Park is composed of 3 distinct use areas: Heart’s Desire – Located at 1100 Pierce Point Road, in Inverness, Heart’s Desire is the heart of Tomales Bay State Park.

What kind of birds live in Tomales Bay?

There are also land and sea birds, including the spotted owl, quail, goldfinches, puffins, great blue heron, pelicans, ruddy ducks, woodpeckers, meadowlarks – and more. Gopher snakes, garter snakes, lizards, and monarch butterflies make the park their home.

Who was the first person to visit Tomales Bay?

The Coast Miwok people were the first to inhabit the coastal area of sheltered coves, beaches, tidal marshes, and forest of Bishop pines now known as Tomales Bay State Park, forty miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Sir Francis Drake was the first explorer to land in this area in 1579, followed by the Spanish in 1595.