San Francisco Relocation Guide - Antevia

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