About this place

San Francisco is a major city in Northern California, United States, situated on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula. The city is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and San Francisco Bay to the east. It is a consolidated city-county, covering a compact area of about 46 square miles. The population of the city proper is approximately 837,000, while the wider San Francisco Bay Area is home to over 7 million people. Its high population in a relatively small area makes it one of the most densely populated major cities in the United States.

Historical Outline

The area was originally inhabited by the Yelamu people. The first European settlement was established by the Spanish in 1776, who founded the Presidio of San Francisco and the Mission San Francisco de Asís. Following the Mexican-American War, the territory became part of the United States in 1848. The same year, the discovery of gold in California triggered a massive population boom, transforming the small settlement of Yerba Buena into the bustling city of San Francisco in just a few years.

Throughout its history, the city has faced significant challenges, most notably the devastating earthquake and subsequent fire of 1906, which destroyed about three-quarters of the city. San Francisco rebuilt quickly, hosting the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915. During World War II, it served as a primary port of embarkation for the Pacific Theater. In the post-war years, the city became a center for various counterculture movements and has maintained a reputation for being at the forefront of social and cultural change.

The Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the Golden Gate, the strait connecting San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. It connects the city of San Francisco with Marin County to the north. Construction on the bridge began on January 5, 1933, and it was opened to the public on May 27, 1937. At the time of its completion, it was the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world.

The bridge's design is a well-known example of Art Deco style. Its distinctive color, officially called "International Orange," was chosen to complement the natural surroundings and to enhance its visibility in the frequent fog. The total length of the bridge is approximately 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers), with the two main towers rising 746 feet (227 meters) above the water. These towers support the two main cables, from which the bridge deck is suspended. The construction was a considerable engineering feat for its time, involving complex calculations and the development of new construction techniques to cope with the strong tides, winds, and risk of earthquakes.