San Francisco Relocation Guide - Antevia
San Francisco Relocation Guide - Antevia
San Francisco Relocation Guide - Antevia
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The northern end of Ocean Beach and the Great Highway, as seen from Sutro Heights<br />
Park<br />
The water at Ocean Beach is noteworthy for its strong currents and fierce waves, which<br />
makes it popular among many serious surfers. The water is also quite cold, due to a<br />
process known as upwelling, in which frigid water from below the ocean surface rises up<br />
to replace the surface water that moves away from the beach as a result of the Coriolis<br />
effect. The rapid rip currents and cold water make the ocean dangerous for casual<br />
swimmers or even for those who simply want to set foot in it, and many swimmers have<br />
been swept away and drowned as a result. This attracts many surfers making it one of the<br />
world's top, if not challenging, surfing spots.<br />
Surfers and other swimmers have died at Ocean Beach; as of May 2006, the most recent<br />
death is documented here [1] with the next-previous death taking place in January of<br />
2006 [2]. Prior to that, it had been about four years since anyone died at Ocean Beach. In<br />
1998, a record seven people lost their lives here[3].<br />
Both the north and south ends of Ocean Beach are equipped with their own surf shops<br />
(North being Mollusk Surf Shop and South being Aqua), as well as a handful of local<br />
surfers devoted to its freezing waters and dangerous break.<br />
Seal Rock is a prominent local feature of the area.<br />
History<br />
Due in part to its sometimes inhospitable weather (high winds, cold weather and fog) the<br />
area was largely undeveloped throughout most of <strong>San</strong> <strong>Francisco</strong>'s early history as it was<br />
known as the "Outside Lands". Development finally came in the late 19th century with<br />
the construction of the Sutro Baths below the site where the Cliff House now stands.<br />
Following a brief stint as a refugee camp following the 1906 earthquake, the area was<br />
touted as a resort, as a small amusement park, Playland at the Beach, was built where<br />
Cabrillo and Balboa streets now stands. Major development occurred in the 1920s and<br />
1930s with the construction of the Great Highway, the Sunset District and the Richmond<br />
District that extended right up to the beach. After the destruction of the Sutro Baths in the