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Point Loma:
You are now standing about 400 feet above sea level (120m) on the western side of Point Loma. This overlook has become a popular place to watch the Pacific gray whales on their annual migration. But there are other features along the coast, and each illustrates a different facet of man's relationship with the sea.
The 1891 Point Loma Lighthouse is still a point of reference for navigators at sea. This historic photo was taken shortly after it was built.
Many marine mammals, such as dolphins, seals, and sea lions, can be seen from this vantage point.
Two sets of observation bunkers on the hillside in front of you were part of a coastal defense system that protected San Diego from possible attack during Wourld [sic] War II. Range finders in the bunkers were linked with nearby gun batteries.
The tidepools of Cabrillo National Monument offer a unique opportunity to discover a rich and diverse community of marine animals and plants.
Large offshore kelp bed look like brown patches on the water's surface. Actually, they are dense underwater forests of slender plants that attach to rocks on the bottom and grow upward as high as 60 feet (18m). The giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) is brown algae that likes cool waters near rocky shores. It contains a valuable natural gum called "algin" used in hundreds of products, including antibiotics, toothpaste, ice cream, packaging, tires, and paint. Kelp harvesters "mow" the beds just under the surface. |