Bridging Our Past Through Shipwrecks /MBNMS

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary embraces more than one-quarter (approximately 350 miles) of the California coast. It spans approximately 5,300 square miles of coastal waters extending from Cambria (just north of Morro Bay) to Rocky Point (just north of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge), where it joins boundaries with the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Within its boundaries is a rich array of habitats, from rugged rocky shores, sandy seafloors and lush kelp forests to one of the deepest underwater canyons on the West Coast.

James Rolph stranded

The richness of the ocean's harvest in Monterey Bay brought explorers to this area from many nations. The Spanish arrived in the late 1700's, establishing a pastoral lifestyle and an extensive network of missions, which relied heavily on livestock. Monterey was established as the region's capital under Spanish rule, and as a port through which cargoes were certified. The Spanish exported valuable otter pelts gathered by Russian and Indian hunters to Asia, Europe, and the Americas. New England whalers often hunted along the central coast in the late 1700's and early 1800's, feeding a voracious East Coast market for oil, baleen and meat.

A wealth of shipwrecks in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary are a result of the significant maritime exploration and trade which has occurred here, coupled with a coastline dotted with shallow, rocky headlands and largely exposed to fog, prevailing winds and storms. More than 140 shipwrecks have been documented in this region, and there are undoubtedly more that are not recorded. The shallow, rocky areas of Point Lobos, Cypress Point, Point Pinos and Santa Cruz have the highest known frequency of recorded shipwrecks for this sanctuary.

Part 1 - Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Data Exercise

Print out the chart of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Go to this map of the Monterey Bay NMS. Label the following points on your chart: Point San Pedro, Pigeon Point, Point Ano Nuevo, Point Pinos, Cypress Point, Point Sur, Pfieffer, and Point Piedras Blancas. Plot the shipwrecks listed in the data table by placing a small x at the area on the map where the latitude and longitude intersect.

Are there certain areas within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary that seem to be more prone to shipwrecks than others? Can you think of any reasons why this may be the case?

Are there certain times of year where there seem to be more shipwrecks reported? Can you think of any reasons why this might be the case?

How many shipwrecks were reported in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary before 1942? How many were reported after 1942? Can you think of any reason for this difference?
Check your answers on our Answer Page
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Part 2 - Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Questions:

What small town suddenly "blossomed in white paint" after a central coast shipwreck?
Name the shipwreck that mistook a red caution light relating to a sewer construction project on land for a wharf light, causing the vessel to strike an offshore reef.
Name the ship that rounded Cape Horn in the 19th century while on her maiden voyage and was lost before reaching her final destination.
Salvage is a dangerous business. Name the shipwreck that was being salvaged when a vessel and barge were lost in the operation.
Name the ship whose SOS distress signal could be received by local residents on their television sets.
Name the shipwreck that used a "breeches buoy" to transport survivors to shore on a line secured between the shipwreck and land.
Mariners now have modern technology assisting them in navigating the Pacific West Coast. Would you consider ocean travel? Explain why you are excited about or hesitant about going to sea.

Check your answers on our Answer Page

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Shipwreck Home Channel Islands NMS Monterey Bay NMS Background Data Exercise Database Questions Answer Key Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Banks NMS Olympic Coast NMS Charts Shipwreck Database Links Bibliography CINMS Home	The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary embraces more than one-quarter (approximately 350 miles) of the California coast. It spans approximately 5,300 square miles of coastal waters extending from Cambria (just north of Morro Bay) to Rocky Point (just north of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge), where it joins boundaries with the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Within its boundaries is a rich array of habitats, from rugged rocky shores, sandy seafloors and lush kelp forests to one of the deepest underwater canyons on the West Coast. James Rolph stranded The richness of the ocean's harvest in Monterey Bay brought explorers to this area from many nations. The Spanish arrived in the late 1700's, establishing a pastoral lifestyle and an extensive network of missions, which relied heavily on livestock. Monterey was established as the region's capital under Spanish rule, and as a port through which cargoes were certified. The Spanish exported valuable otter pelts gathered by Russian and Indian hunters to Asia, Europe, and the Americas. New England whalers often hunted along the central coast in the late 1700's and early 1800's, feeding a voracious East Coast market for oil, baleen and meat. A wealth of shipwrecks in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary are a result of the significant maritime exploration and trade which has occurred here, coupled with a coastline dotted with shallow, rocky headlands and largely exposed to fog, prevailing winds and storms. More than 140 shipwrecks have been documented in this region, and there are undoubtedly more that are not recorded. The shallow, rocky areas of Point Lobos, Cypress Point, Point Pinos and Santa Cruz have the highest known frequency of recorded shipwrecks for this sanctuary. Part 1 - Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Data Exercise Print out the chart of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Go to this map of the Monterey Bay NMS. Label the following points on your chart: Point San Pedro, Pigeon Point, Point Ano Nuevo, Point Pinos, Cypress Point, Point Sur, Pfieffer, and Point Piedras Blancas. Plot the shipwrecks listed in the data table by placing a small x at the area on the map where the latitude and longitude intersect. Are there certain areas within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary that seem to be more prone to shipwrecks than others? Can you think of any reasons why this may be the case? Are there certain times of year where there seem to be more shipwrecks reported? Can you think of any reasons why this might be the case? How many shipwrecks were reported in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary before 1942? How many were reported after 1942? Can you think of any reason for this difference? Check your answers on our Answer Page Top of Page Part 2 - Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Questions: What small town suddenly "blossomed in white paint" after a central coast shipwreck? Name the shipwreck that mistook a red caution light relating to a sewer construction project on land for a wharf light, causing the vessel to strike an offshore reef. Name the ship that rounded Cape Horn in the 19th century while on her maiden voyage and was lost before reaching her final destination. Salvage is a dangerous business. Name the shipwreck that was being salvaged when a vessel and barge were lost in the operation. Name the ship whose SOS distress signal could be received by local residents on their television sets. Name the shipwreck that used a "breeches buoy" to transport survivors to shore on a line secured between the shipwreck and land. Mariners now have modern technology assisting them in navigating the Pacific West Coast. Would you consider ocean travel? Explain why you are excited about or hesitant about going to sea. Check your answers on our Answer Page Top of Page
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