San Francisco - city and main port on the Pacific Coast of the United States, California, the center of a large urban conurbation, historical capital California. Located in western California, on a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate. The population is 843.3 thousand people (2013, the population of Greater San Francisco is 7.2 million people).
Despite the fact that European expeditions (F. Drake, J. R. Cabrillo, S. Biscaino) visited here in the 16th century, they did not notice the convenient San Francisco Bay because of the fog. The ships of the Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola were the first to visit here. In 1776, the military fort Presidio de San Francisco ("garrison of St. Francis of Assisi", operated until 1994, then a museum) and the mission "San Francisco de Asis" (another name "Dolores") were founded. The first civilian settlement, Yerba Buena, was founded in 1835 by an Englishman, Captain W.E. Richardson. During the Mexican-American War, it was captured by the Americans and renamed San Francisco (1847).
In 1848 in Northern California the first gold was found, soon the "gold rush" (1849) began, as well as the discovery of the Comstock silver vein in 1859, which contributed to the very rapid development of the city. In 1848-1870, the population of the city increased by 187 times (in 1848 the population was 800 people, and in 1870 - 150 thousand people). The population of San Francisco, like California as a whole, grew even more after the completion of the construction of the Pacific railway in 1869, which connected the West with the center of the country.
In April 1906, an earthquake struck the San Francisco area, after which a fire raged for several days. As a result, about 700 people died, the city center was destroyed, and a residential area of Victorian private houses was damaged. During the Great Depression, the city was replenished by immigrants from other states. During the Second World War, the city became the center of military shipbuilding, shipyards were built, which employed about 500 thousand workers. In the summer of 1945, the San Francisco Conference took place, which created the UN.
By the end of the 20th century, environmental problems intensified in the city, as well as overpopulation problems, real estate prices rose sharply (one of the most expensive cities countries). In the 1960s, San Francisco was the center of rock and jazz, the city became one of the centers of the hippie, beatnik, pacifist movements; "psychedelic" or "California" rock was born here.
Golden Gate Bridge
Among the attractions: the Golden Gate Bridge over the strait connecting the San Francisco Bay with the Pacific Ocean (span length 1281 m), the height of 67 m above sea level makes it possible to sail any sea vessels (the symbol of California, built in 1937), the business part cities with skyscrapers (Downtown), including the skyscrapers Bank of America, Pyramid, Embarcadero Center, consisting of four skyscrapers, and sculptural compositions (including the avant-garde Vaillantour fountain).
Neighborhoods on the hills of Knob Hill (originally the quarter of the gold miners), Telegraph Hill (the first telegraph office in the West opened here in 1853), Russian Hill (The roller coaster, the quarter of writers, here is the most winding Lombard Street in the world) and Twin Peaks (from here you have a beautiful view of Downtown and bridges).
Lombard street
San Francisco has long been considered one of the the most beautiful places USA. Thanks to his geographic location, natural features and rich history, the city is famous for its contrast, many faces and very colorful. The legendary symbol of the American West, the brainchild of the "gold rush", San Francisco attracts tourists from all over the world. Americans themselves often call the city "the pearl of the West Coast."
San Francisco is located on a small peninsula between the bay of the same name and the Pacific Ocean, connected to each other by the Golden Gate Strait. Numerous hills on which the city is located, oceanic winds and frequent fogs have become in some way its "calling card". By the way, there are about 50 hills of various heights in the city, and the Twin Peaks hills are the most popular with tourists - they offer a magnificent view of the bay and the city.
Ever since the days of the California "gold rush" the city has secured the status of the financial and industrial center of the region. Today, there are many research centers and industries related to high technology, genetic engineering and medical electronics, so the city continues to play an important role in economic life countries. In addition, due to its favorable location, San Francisco serves about 30% of the trade of the entire west coast of the country.
History of San Francisco
Initially the territory modern San Francisco was inhabited by Indians, European colonists came here in 1769. Seven years later, the Spaniards founded the mission of St. Francis of Assisi here, around which a small settlement was formed.
After the independence of Mexico from Spain, the territory of modern California became Mexican, and new town was named Herba Buena, which means "good grass" in Spanish. However, Mexico soon loses the war with America, and in 1848 the territory of California becomes a possession of the United States. The city is officially renamed San Francisco, and the active expansion of nearby territories for construction begins.
Perhaps the California gold rush that began in 1848 played a key role in the history of San Francisco. Literally in a year, the population of the city increased from 1,000 to 25,000 people. The city infrastructure was not ready for such an influx of people, problems with health, crime and housing began.
Another turning point in the history of San Francisco was the strongest earthquake in 1906, which, combined with the fires that had begun, almost completely destroyed the city. After that, an era of rapid reconstruction and development began, and gradually San Francisco acquired a modern look.
City population
The population of San Francisco is about 815 thousand people, while the city ranks second in the country in terms of population density after. More than 40% of residents have higher education which makes competition in the labor market very significant. The average income level here is quite high, while due to high housing and food prices, the cost of living in San Francisco is quite high.
The city is known around the world for its tolerance of people with non-traditional sexual orientation. According to statistics, about 15% of the population of San Francisco belong to the gay community - this is the highest figure in the world.
Transport
Public transport in San Francisco is very popular with residents - up to 35% of the population use its services daily. The city's public transportation network is said to be the best on the West Coast, including surface and underground light rail, buses, trolleybuses, suburban trains, and ferry crossing and the famous historic cable car.
The "light rail" cars (light rails) or San Francisco buses are often crowded, but this is perhaps the best way to get around the city for tourists. In any case, it is not recommended to rent a car - endless traffic jams, narrow streets and expensive parking lots are unlikely to bring much pleasure.
Main Attractions
The main attraction of San Francisco, its hallmark is the Golden Gate Bridge - one of the largest suspension bridges in the world. The length of the bridge is a little less than 2 kilometers, the height above the water level is 67 meters.
Also very popular is the Golden Gate Park - the most beautiful oasis of greenery among big city, stretching for five kilometers in length and resting on Ocean Beach. This beach, by the way, runs along another park, symbolically nicknamed "Lands End". This place is the most extreme point continental land in the direction of rotation of our planet, here the New Year comes last.
On one of the islands near San Francisco is famous prison Alcatraz (Alcatraz), familiar to many from the movie "The Rock". In the past, this is one of the most severe prisons for especially dangerous criminals, only a few managed to escape from here. Today, the prison is not used for its intended purpose and has been turned into a museum; you can get here from San Francisco using the ferry from Pier 33.
On the west coast of the United States, on the Pacific coast, is the most liberal city in America - San Francisco, California.
Tourist center, financial businessman, hippie capital of the world, creator of computer and biomedical technologies, beautiful city- are united in one metropolis, create a unique atmosphere of life, recreation and communication.
Here is the most high level residence, the coldest mists and the most a large number of homosexuals. All this makes the city unique, unforgettable, arousing the interest of any tourist, deservedly called the "Pearl of the West Coast".
general information
The city of San Francisco is 239 years old. The date of its foundation is considered to be 1776, when the Spaniards founded a fort named after the Catholic St. Francis on the coast. formed near small village called Yerba Buzna (or Good Grass). Since then, the city has undergone several fundamental changes, turned into a large population center.
The first event, due to which the population of the city grew 70 times, was the California Gold Rush. Within three years of the gold rush, the population of 500 increased dramatically to 35,000.
Then the city was destroyed by a strong earthquake (in 1906) and rebuilt. After 60 years, San Francisco has become the center of the hippie movement and the territory of sexual freedom.
Today's San Francisco is a city of almost a million people, with a high population density. 880 thousand inhabitants are settled on 120 square kilometers of land. This is the second most densely populated city in America (after).
Population
San Francisco is one of the most diverse cities in the world. Among the population of the city there are 50% Europeans, 34% Chinese, 6% African Americans, only 0.5% Indians. The remaining 10% are Hispanics.
Among the permanent population of the city - the largest percentage of homosexuals in America (15% - this is the maximum for the continent). And the smallest number of children in the total population (less than in neighboring cities, by 14%).
Almost half of the residents of the Federation Council have higher education. This tightens the job market, raises prices, and makes the city one of the most expensive metropolitan areas in the US to live in.
City of San Francisco - tourist centre California. The number of visitors per year exceeds 17 million tourists. Income from tourism exceeds income from any other activities (genetic engineering, computer technology, banking auctions). Therefore, the city has established and operates public transport, a system of hotels, restaurants and entertainment.
Districts of the city
Modern San Francisco was built up after the destruction of 1906 (when there was a strong earthquake). Therefore, the streets of the city have a clear architectural plan. Only the historical center (or Old city) with winding but very picturesque streets.
The city on the peninsula has 40 districts. Among them, the most popular with tourists are Fisherman's Wharf, Embankment, Central Square, ethnic quarters.
Fishermans Wharf invites you to the Marine Historical Park, to Pier 39 with souvenir shops and seals living on it, to the Aquarium, as well as to the building seaport with a tower and an old clock at the top. The building houses a shopping center and a maritime station.
The next tourist mecca is central square Union. There are many shops and hotels here.
The area of round-the-clock festivities and entertainment meets tourists on the Embankment.
Financial buildings (the Financial District or "FiDi") are located in downtown San Francisco. Here are bank skyscrapers and headquarters.
Ethnic neighborhoods are areas where only immigrants live and work. The Italian area of North Beach is now a place of nightlife with clubs and bars. Nearby is a picturesque tower on the top of telegraph hill (Telegraph Hill district).
Kitay-gorod or Chinatown is a place where the Chinese settled. The Chinese New Year Parade is held here every year. By the way, the population of Chinatown is growing every year.
Other Asians reside in Sunset. Richmond is called the new Chinatown, it is replete with Russian emigrants.
The largest number of museums is concentrated in the South of Market (SoMa).
Nob Hill - prestigious and expensive place residence of wealthy citizens. Here are the most expensive hotels.
Another prestigious area is called Russian Hill (Russian Hill), although the majority of Russian emigrants live in Richmond.
In addition, there is the Haight-Ashbury punk and hippie district and the Castro gay district.
Climate and weather
The climate of San Francisco is different from that of the rest of California. Here you can not sunbathe like in Los Angeles or soak up the sun like in Florida. The city is located south of Sochi, at the latitude of Central Asia and Ashgabat. However, summer temperatures rarely exceed 25?C. This is due to the cold Pacific current and frequent fogs.
Baker Beach
The coast in the vicinity of the city is inconvenient for sea swimming, there is cool water (in summer - no higher than +15? C) and strong surf. Surfing is complicated by undercurrents.
The coast along San Francisco is busy with beaches. However, sunbathing and soaking up the sun is not possible every day. Even in sunny weather, a cold ocean wind can blow.
A characteristic feature of the climate is that there are no large temperature fluctuations. In September, during the day the air warms up to +25?C, and at night it cools down to +16?C. In January, the temperature during the day is +13?C, and at night +8?C.
The average temperature of the summer months is colder than July in Moscow. But at the same time, there are no frosts in San Francisco, and winter represents the rainy season, not the cold. Snow is such a rare occurrence that its appearance has been recorded several times over the course of decades.
The most foggy weather in San Francisco is in August-September (the temperature difference between air and water reaches a maximum). November marks the beginning of the rainy season. At this time, visiting the city is not so interesting. Therefore, most visitors appear here in late March or early April, when the winter rains end. One of the best periods to visit the city is April and May. Dry, warm and little fog.
How to get to San Francisco
There is no direct flight Moscow - San Francisco, you can get to Los Angeles (ticket price - 45,000 rubles, travel time - 16-18 hours) or New York.
The second option for an air flight is to make a transfer in London (the cost of the entire flight is 64,000 rubles, the duration is about 20 hours), Helsinki (40,000 rubles and 20 hours) or Istanbul (35,000 rubles, 21 hours).
Find cheap flights from Moscow to San Francisco:
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San Francisco International Airport is located 22 kilometers from the city. His short name — SFO(according to the code in the ticket). To get from SFO to San Francisco, you can take a taxi, minibus, or BART subway car.
And you can also use a minibus or a group taxi (shuttle). The cost of such a move is from $12 to $25 per person.
The city's attractions
Time flies by in San Francisco. I want to do everything, see everything, go everywhere. You can start exploring the city right at the entrance to the peninsula through a unique suspension bridge.
Connected the city to the opposite shore of the bay. In any weather, it is an amazing sight. Its length is 2.8 km. The length of each span is 1.3 km. The height above the water is almost 70 m.
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
In addition to the bridge, in San Francisco you will be met by picturesque hills, charming parks and unusual museums.
hills
The number of hills on which the city is spread exceeds 50 (the height of each of them is more than 30 meters). Hills, fogs and a suspension bridge are the hallmark of San Francisco. The height of the most impressive hill reaches 280 m, this is Davidson Hill. It has a large cross 30 meters high.
Among the hills, the twins are the most visited Twin Peaks. They are located in the center of residential areas and allow you to admire the panorama of the entire city.
Grand Cross on Davidson Hill in San Francisco 
Twin Peaks in San Francisco
parks
The next group of city attractions are parks and green areas. Golden Gate Park stretches for 5 km from the coast deep into the peninsula, here - only artificial plantations.
There is Land's End Park, Lincoln Park, and the park area of the former Presidio military facility. Most old park The city is called Buena Vista, it was founded on one of the hills in 1867.
Islands
most famous and notable island is a former prison. This Alcatraz- a maximum security prison for dangerous criminals. Today Alcatraz is open to the public as a museum.
Alcatraz - the island of the former prison
The second notable island is named after the Angels. This is the former zone of the migration camp, where military houses, centuries-old trees, wild animals and the beauty of nature have been preserved.
Museums
The number of museums in San Francisco exceeds 30. Among them: the Museum of Cableways, Modern Art, Science (Exploratorium), Ophthalmology, Mechanics, Tattoos and UFOs.
Museum cable cars San Francisco 
Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco 
The Exploratorium is an interactive science museum in San Francisco, California, USA. 
Tattoo Museum in San Francisco
And also a number national museums: Mexican, Asian, African, Jewish. And yet - the Russian cultural center.
San Francisco is a great city to explore on foot, sometimes using public transportation. Car parking is expensive here road traffic- Unusual, with traffic jams and complex maneuvers. Therefore, if you want to see the sights, not traffic jams, use buses or an old cable car.
Where to stay in the city
The cheapest San Francisco hotels are located in the area international airport. In addition, they provide free bus services to the airport.
However, most of the hotels are located in the city. Living in them makes it possible to travel on foot or on public transport, With minimal cost to move. Most large cluster hotels - in the center (Downtown and Union Square). The main shopping places are also concentrated here.
Crab restaurants greet visitors in coastal areas (Marina and Fisherman's Wharf). There are also many hotels of different levels of comfort and price.
Fewer hotels on Russian Hill. San Francisco specific hotels are in the Castro area (sex minority area).
In addition to hotels, the hostel system is widely used. This is a budget accommodation where comfort is offered for less. Here you can rent both a separate room and a separate bed.
Find a hotel in San Francisco:
How to dial to San Francisco?
San Francisco area code +1 415 , where the first digit "1"- US country code. When calling from a mobile, a combination is dialed +1415 , after which the subscriber's number is dialed (7 digits). To make a call from a landline, dial the exit code to the intercity (8), then to the international connection (0 or 10), and only then the combination 1 415 and the seven-digit phone number.
To successfully make a call from Moscow, you need to correctly determine the time in America. The clock in San Francisco differs from the clock in Moscow by more than half a day. To find out what time it is in San Francisco now, you need to subtract 15 hours from Moscow time.
San Francisco is a city of eccentrics and experimenters, gays and businessmen. He can delight, he can attract with freedom or annoy with tolerance, but he will never leave a person indifferent. The pearl of the coast, the misty hills of California, America's most romantic city.
Watch the amazing video:
The city of San Francisco, best known as the pearl of the West Coast, is surrounded and lapped by the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. The city is rightfully called one of the most beautiful places in the United States for travel lovers, as well as quality recreation. This interest is primarily due to geographical location, as well as the natural features and rich history of this region. This city frightens and shocks someone, fascinates and drives others crazy. Nevertheless, there is no person on Earth whom this magnificent city left indifferent.
Climate in San Francisco
Going on a long journey to San Francisco, tourists often confuse it with another California resort - Los Angeles, located a little closer to the south.
Remember, the weather conditions in this city are far from the resort ones, as in. The Mediterranean climate dominates here, which is characterized by predominantly rainy winters and rather dry summers.
San Francisco is surrounded by water on all sides, which is why the weather is largely influenced by cold currents. In summer, the average temperature is 24 C, closer to winter, the temperature is likely to drop to 10 C. The most abundant precipitation falls from November to March, snow is extremely rare here. The most favorable time for exploring the city is summer, late spring (May) or early autumn (until October).
Getting to San Francisco
Due to the cancellation of direct flights from Moscow, flights with transfers in other cities became the only way to get to San Francisco. In terms of saving money, transit routes through New York and Los Angeles will be the surest solution for you. The cost of a flight to San Francisco from the Russian capital varies from $600 to $700 one way. The duration of such a trip is at least 17 hours.
If you have already arrived in the USA or, then you can use the services of intercity buses. The country has a well-developed bus service between settlements. home bus station The Greyhound is located at 425 Mission Street in San Francisco.
Another way to get to San Francisco from anywhere you need locality is a train. Trains of the state company Amtrak provide transportation throughout the country. However, keep in mind that there are no direct flights to San Francisco. You can get to the neighboring cities of Auckland and Emeryville.
Basic prices for travelers to San Francisco
The cost of 1 day of living in San Francisco, at first glance, may seem high (from $ 100), however, you must admit, life in this beautiful city worth it. In addition to expensive pleasures, there is a huge selection of splendors that you get completely free of charge, for example, the beauty of the city, frequent street festivals, green parks, open galleries and much more. For an experienced tourist, it will not be difficult at all to spend a great time with minimal cash costs.
Prices in hotels depend on the category. For example, if you want to stay in a luxury 5-star hotel, then be prepared to pay $ 200-1000 per night. A more economical option is hostels, the cost of one night is from $15 to $80.
The fare in public transport is $1.5, in a taxi - $2.25 per mile (plus $3.5 for landing). Do you want to move freely around the city? Use the car rental service, it will cost you $40 plus gasoline (1l. $1). Be sure to have $4 with you just in case you have to park somewhere in the city, otherwise you will pay 7 times more for the wrong parking. Remember - saving often costs us more.
When shopping in San Francisco, be careful, because the amount on the price tag is excluding VAT (from 7 to 11%). This is a clever move to deceive a gullible buyer, especially a tourist. Be prepared for the fact that when buying clothes, household goods, and even in a cafe, you will have to add about 10% to the amount indicated on the check.
Do you think American prices "bite"? Not at all, especially if you fall on sale days. During this period, prices for most goods are reduced by an average of 60%, the maximum price reduction is about 2 weeks before the end of sales.
What are the sights to see in San Francisco?
Acquaintance with the city must begin with a walk around downtown. There is a lot of traffic here and high skyscrapers, and crowds of people - everything is like in American films. In addition, the oldest and, perhaps, the largest Chinatown in America is seething in the city center! There is a special atmosphere here: the famous Chinese pagodas, exotic products in shop windows, narrow lanes.
Decided to take a break? Head to the museums of San Francisco. The most popular of them: the de Young Memorial Museum with a huge collection American painting, Museum of Modern Art, Asian Art Museum, which exhibits artifacts from most Asian countries, the Wells Fargo Historical Museum. And finally, the Golden Gate Museum-Park. You must visit it! Over 1700 plant species are represented here!
After visiting parks and museums, head to the main symbol of San Francisco - the Golden Gate. By the way, you can buy a cruise around it, as well as go to the island with the Alcatraz prison. These cruises depart from Pier 39, which itself is a landmark in the city. There is an incredibly large number of souvenir shops, restaurants, attractions and so on. entertainment. Nearby is the Aquarium of the Bay, an aquarium with over 20,000 different marine life.
You can complete your trip around San Francisco by visiting the most chic area of the city of Nob Hill, as well as the Russian Hill district, the peculiarity of which is that it is located on the very high point in the city.
Shopping in San Francisco
San Francisco is definitely one of the the best places to do shopping. Among trade and entertainment centers, first of all, it is worth noting one, Westfield is perhaps the largest complex, uniting over 170 fashionable and expensive stores such as Prada, Diesel, Gucci, Escada, etc. under its roof. There are other options shopping centers: Crocker Gallery, Japan Center. In addition, it is recommended to visit a major covered market Ferry Building and walk through the picturesque Chinatown area. The points with the highest concentration of stores are: Sacramento street, Hayes Valley, Fillmore, Union Square, Mission. However, here everyone will find something for themselves.
Officially, the city of San Francisco has been called that only since 1847. Previously, this settlement bore the Spanish name Herba Buena, which means “good grass”. This name was given, as you might have guessed, by the Spaniards, who arrived here first of the Europeans and declared this territory their colony. In 1776, the Spanish missionary Juan Batista da Anza founded the Mission of Saint Francis of Asia. After 45 years, Herba Buana is already part of Mexico, which has declared its independence from Spain.
But in 1848, the United States, due to debts, declares war on Mexico. Mexico is losing the war and is forced to pay its debts with the loss of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, California and San Francisco. But the city by that time was still very small, its population was barely 1,000 people. It owes its growth to the "Gold Rush" hovering over the United States and pulling thousands of people to these places. Arising on southwest coast Bay of San Francisco, the city rapidly conquered more and more new territories from the nearby hills. Trying not to lag behind New York in anything, the fathers of the city of San Francisco also laid the streets in slender rows, like on a chessboard. This was quite an architectural challenge, considering that San Francisco is spread among numerous hills.
Now population San Francisco, without suburbs, is 800 thousand people.
Landmarks of San Francisco
City of San Francisco- one of the most popular symbols of the Hollywood industry. Countless film crews on its streets have not surprised anyone for a long time, they are simply used to it. Residents of San Francisco are also tolerant of the numerous ethnic minorities that have settled here. There is a Spanish or Mexican influence everywhere; a significant part of the city's population are also Italians, Chinese, Vietnamese and Cambodians.
Recently, a museum of beatniks was opened in the city. It is located in the North Beach neighborhood on Grant Avenue, where famous writers of the 1950s and 1960s generation lived and worked. This literary and youth movement, which arose after the Second World War, proclaimed voluntary poverty, vagrancy, erotic freedom, anarchic hedonism, detachment from social problems, and a passion for Zen Buddhism. Among the well-known authors of this trend are J. Kerouac, A. Ginsberg, L. Ferlinghetti.
In addition to this museum, San Francisco many others cultural centers: Museum of Modern Arts, War Memorial Opera House, Asian Art and Culture Center, Jewish Community Center, California Palace of the Legion of Honor, etc. There are several museums in the Golden Gate Park, but they fade under the charm and originality of the park itself.
The Golden Gate Bridge, which symbolizes this city, was inaugurated in 1937, but to this day it is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Its length reaches 2730 meters, with six lanes of traffic and two pedestrian paths. From each car for entry into San Francisco through the "Golden Gate" a fee of several dollars is charged.
Another attraction San Francisco- this is the "end of the Earth" in Sutro Park. This is the name of the place where the very last tip of the continental earth is located in the direction of its rotation around its axis. For example, New Year comes here last. Further across the ocean between San Francisco and Japan is the zero meridian, from which a new day begins. Chinatown in San Francisco is America's largest Chinatown with endless fish restaurants, pagoda roofs and souvenir shops where you can buy all kinds of trinkets from different countries and continents. In the old part of the city, you can see with your own eyes one of the Guinness Book records, the most crooked street in the world - Lombard Street.
Geography and climate
San Francisco is located on the West Coast of the United States, at the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula. The boundaries of the city are strongly stretched along the coasts of the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay. The city includes several islands: Alcatraz, Treasure Island and Yerba Buena. The city also contains the uninhabited islands of Faralon, located at a distance of 43 kilometers in pacific ocean. It is often said that San Francisco is a square with a side of 7 miles (~11 kilometers).
San Francisco is famous for its hills. A hill in the city is called an elevation of more than 30 meters. There are 42 hills within the city limits, some areas of the city are named after the hills on which they are located (Knob Hill, Pacific Heights, Russian Hill, Potreto Hill and Telegraph Hill).
Not far from the geographical center of the city, a little to the south, there are a number of hills with the lowest population density, here the entertainment and information infrastructure of the city mainly prevails. There are television and radio transmitter towers on Sutro Hill. Next door are the Twin Peaks, one of the highest hills in the city, one of the most popular places tourist visits. The highest hill in San Francisco is Mount Davidson, 282 meters high, in 1934 a high cross was built here (its height is 31.4 m).
San Francisco is located near two tectonic faults, which are the cause of frequent earthquakes. Small earthquakes in the San Francisco Bay area occur intermittently. The threat of major earthquakes places high standards on the strength of new buildings and forces the city to rebuild early buildings and bridges.
San Francisco's coastline severely limits the city's growth, so sites for several areas such as Marin, Hunter Point, and most of the Embarcadero area were made artificially by filling in coastal areas with earth. Treasure Island was built from material obtained from the construction of a bridge across the bay. Such man-made areas are highly unstable during an earthquake, as the 1989 earthquake amply demonstrated when the Marin County was destroyed.
Source: wikipedia.org
Earthquake and fire in 1906
On April 18, 1906, a devastating earthquake occurred as a result of the 1,300 km San Andreas Fault, from the city of San Juan Batista to the city of Eureka, centered near San Francisco. According to USGS data, the earthquake was 7.8 on the Richter scale. The entire city was flooded, then fires began, which destroyed supposedly 80% of the city, including almost the entire city center. Many residents were trapped between the flood and the fire approaching their areas, it was decided to evacuate through the bay, which saved many people's lives. Refugee camps were located in Golden Gate Park, Washen Beach and other non-built-up parts of the city. Even 2 years after the earthquake, many refugee camps were functioning. At that time, the "death" bell sounded 478 times, but according to 2005 data, more than 3,000 people officially died. With a population of 410,000, up to 300,000 inhabitants were left homeless.
