Aloha to San Diego: Cabrillo National Monument (part 1) - Rocky Intertidal Zone

 

The Cabrillo National Monument is located atop Point Loma, overlooking San Diego Bay.  From the National Park Service (link),

Cabrillo National Monument, established in 1913, commemorates Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo's voyage of discovery. A heroic statue of Cabrillo looks out over the bay that he first sailed into on September 28, 1542. At the Visitor Center, the film "In Search of Cabrillo" and an exhibit hall present Cabrillo's life and times. Ranger-led programs about Cabrillo are usually available on weekends and on many weekdays during summer months.

We first stopped at the Rocky Intertidal Zone.  Again from the National Park Service (link),

The southern end of Cabrillo is one of the best-protected and easily accessible rocky intertidal areas in southern California. The word “intertidal” refers to the unique ecosystem that lies between the high and low tides along the shore. Tidepools are depressions where water is trapped during low tides, forming small pools that provide habitat for numerous plants, invertebrates, and fish.

These depressions are formed over geologic time through a combination of biological, physical, and chemical processes. Although the whole rocky intertidal is often referred to as the “tidepool area,” it is important to note that shelves and boulder fields surround the pools, and these also provide a great habitat for the multitude of organisms that call this zone home.

I could spend hours looking at the sea.

What is your favorite place by the sea? One randomly selected commenter from this week's blog posts wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, August 6, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 7, at SOS Aloha.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City