The jagged cliffs that guarded the entrance to San Francisco Bay

Nature · Published 19 October 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: For centuries, these remote rocky islands were so ominous that mariners preferred to sail far around them rather than risk the treacherous shoals nearby. Now, they serve as a vital sanctuary for some of the world's rarest seabirds and a critical feeding ground for great white sharks.

Located 30 miles west of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Farallon Islands are a rugged archipelago that has served as a biological stronghold for millennia. The islands are home to the largest seabird nesting colony south of Alaska, including the world's largest colony of western gulls. Remarkably, they support approximately half of the global population of Ashy storm-petrels, making the archipelago a cornerstone of marine biodiversity.

The islands' history is defined by their formidable geography. Known to Native Americans as a spiritual abode for the dead, they were later dubbed 'the Devil's Teeth' by mariners due to the dangerous underwater shoals surrounding them. While the Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno's expedition recorded them in 1603 as 'farallones' (cliffs), it was Sir Francis Drake who first provided a surviving written record in 1579. He landed there to collect seal meat and bird eggs, naming them the Islands of Saint James.

The islands played a significant role in the maritime history of the West Coast. Their intimidating appearance likely caused explorers to skirt the coastline for over two centuries, delaying the discovery of the San Francisco Bay until 1769. Today, the area is strictly protected. The Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1909, remains closed to the public to preserve the sensitivity of the wildlife, while the surrounding waters are shielded as part of the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

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