Monterey Bay is a bay of the Pacific Ocean, on the coast of California, south of San Francisco. At the north end is the town of Santa Cruz, and at the south end is the city of Monterey.
Monterey Bay is home to many species of marine mammals, including sea otters, harbor seals, and bottlenose dolphins; as well as being on the migratory path of Gray and Humpback Whales and a breeding site for elephant sea lions . Many species of fish, moluscs such as abalone and squid, birds, and sea turtles also live in the bay. Several varieties of kelp grow in the bay, some becoming as tall as small trees, forming what is known as a kelp forest.
The Monterey Canyon , one of the largest underwater canyons in the world, begins off the coast of Moss Landing, exactly in the center of Monterey Bay.
In 1992 the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary was created, protecting over 4,000 square nautical miles of the bay and surrounding ocean.
See also: Monterey Bay Aquarium
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