San Francisco location. San Francisco - California city, short story with maps, photos and descriptions of attractions

It is also rightfully called the "pearl of the west coast". Elegant and luxurious, modern and old, provincial and cosmopolitan, this amazing city will have a special side for every traveler. San Francisco is literally mesmerizing with its pointed gables, numerous turrets and magnificent Victorian buildings that are just perfect for the sunny coastline, summer fogs and steep hills. Despite the fact that San Francisco is a true American metropolis, with its compactness and some special charm, it resembles a seaside European city, where you want to forget about all your problems and enjoy the light and relaxed atmosphere to its fullest.

Region	California, San Francisco County
Population
Population density	6688 people / km²
	American dollar
Timezone	UTC-7 in summer
Postal code	94101-94112, 94114-94147, 94150-94170, 94172, 94175, 94177
International dialing code

Climate and weather

San Francisco has a Mediterranean climate with mild, rainy winters and warm, dry summers. The city is surrounded by water on three sides, so cold ocean currents significantly affect the weather. In summer, the average air temperature is +15 ... + 24 ° С, and in winter - +10 ... + 15 ° C... The rainy season lasts from November to March, snowfall is extremely rare. In late summer and from September to October, the city, especially its western regions, is enveloped in fogs that may not subside throughout the day.

The best time to travel to San Francisco is during a dry period from mid-May to October.

Nature

The city is located on the western coast of California, on a small peninsula located near the Golden Gate Sound, which connects the picturesque San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. In addition, the island is under the jurisdiction of the city. Alcatraz and Treasure Island as well as the uninhabited Farallon Islands and part of the island Red rock... A feature of the urban landscape is the large number of hills, for example, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Pacific Heights, Telegraph Hill, Potreto Hill and etc.

It is worth noting that San Francisco is located next to two tectonic faults, so small earthquakes happen here from time to time.

sights

In San Francisco, there are a fairly large number of all kinds of attractions, and many of them are of global importance. The main symbol of the city is a huge suspension bridge Golden Gate, which is equipped with a spectacular illumination system. Less famous, but no less remarkable is the bridge. Oakland Bay Bridge.

Lombard Street has become an interesting tourist spot in the city, which will appeal to hikers. It is located on the Russian Hill, and its main feature is considered to be a very large slope (27 °). The memorial tower is no less popular. Coit Tower, which is dedicated to a local woman who volunteered to help firefighters. The most picturesque area of ​​the city is Chinatown, where you can see original houses in oriental style, as well as visit Chinese restaurants and shops.

Also worth noting is the entrance to Chinatown, which is a gorgeous colorful gateway. In addition, it is recommended to explore the old restaurant Cliff House, fishing pier with sea lion colony, Museum Walt disney c and the Museum of Russian Culture.

There are interesting natural attractions in San Francisco, for example, two twin hills Twin Peaks, from the tops of which a stunning view of the city opens. Well, there are more than 200 various parks here.

Finally, it is worth noting the famous island Alcatraz, which is located near San Francisco. It is known that at one time he served as a prison, which was considered the most reliable in the United States. Now the island is a historical monument.

Food

San Francisco is a gourmet city that rivals even New York in the number and variety of restaurants. This is not surprising, because the conditions for running a restaurant business here are simply ideal: skilled chefs from all over the world, first-class wineries and numerous farms supplying the city with the freshest products. It should be said right away that the continuous flow of emigrants almost completely absorbed the local national cuisine, along with its wings and potatoes. Therefore, Mexican, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and other ethnic establishments are most often found here. Half of the city's restaurants are concentrated in the districts Chinatown and Castro... The latter, by the way, is notable not only for its popularity among sex minorities, but also for cozy cafes with summer grounds serving delicious shrimp and crab dishes, as well as bohemian coffee shops and chocolate shops. In addition, many fine dining restaurants are located in the shipyard. Fisherman's Wharf... This is where great seafood dishes are served, as well as succulent Californian steaks and the famous sourdough bread.

Of course, San Francisco is full of fast food outlets offering hamburgers and hot dogs, but they are not as popular as in other cities in the United States. There are also many small pastry shops where you can enjoy some chocolate dessert and a cup of coffee at any time.

San Francisco is also the real capital of wine. Moreover, Californian wines are distinguished by exquisite taste and are considered one of the best in the world.

Accommodation

San Francisco offers its guests a huge number of hotels of various categories. For those who want to save on accommodation, hostels and hotels will be the best temporary accommodation facilities. B&B, which are scattered literally throughout the city, for example, The Pontiac Hotel & Hostel(from $ 20) or Mission Inn(from $ 39.2).

Also in the city there are many mid-range hotels (from $ 60) and expensive upscale hotels (from $ 300).

Entertainment and recreation

San Francisco can offer its guests a variety of entertainments for every taste, so you will definitely not be bored here. For example, a visit to the zoo is suitable for a family holiday. San francisco zoo or aquarium Aquarium of the Bay. Lovers of outdoor recreation will also like it in the city, as there is simply an incredible number of beautiful parks and gardens on its territory. Of these, the most popular is the park "Golden Gate", which is a real oasis in the city center. Another beautiful place in San Francisco is Baker Beach. Well, golf lovers are advised to go to the park Lincoln, on the territory of which there is an excellent golf center.

Cultural enthusiasts will also love San Francisco: opera, ballet and symphony concerts - all this in a huge variety San Francisco has to offer you. Most of the performances take place in the opera house "In memory of war" and the American Conservatory Theater (A.K.T.).

No less saturated and night life city, as there are more than a hundred bars, nightclubs, showrooms and blues cafes. In addition, San Francisco is a real city of holidays and festivals. Of these, the most popular are Folsom Street Fair, the Chinese New Year Parade, Lovefest, Christian Holidays Carnival and Navy Week. Moreover, almost all city blocks have their own individual holidays.

Exciting excursions to the brewery can also be an interesting pastime. Anchor Brewing Company and large wineries, as well as to the islands Alcatraz and Angel.

Purchases

San Francisco's shops are considered some of the best in the world, so it's no surprise that tourists come here directly to shop. The most popular shopping spots in the city are Union Square, Upper Fillmore, Sacramento Street, Hayes Valley and Mission... This is where the best stores are located, from fashion boutiques and jewelry stores to ethnic shops and designer galleries. Well, among the shopping centers, first of all, it is worth highlighting Westfield San Francisco Center.

On its territory there are representative offices of such famous brands as Abercrombie & Fitch, Nordstorm "s and others, as well as boutiques of the most popular companies ( Macy "s, Bulgari, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, MaxMara, Diesel, Prada, Celine, Gucci, Escada, Guess, Agnes B., Wilkes Bashford etc.). In addition, it is recommended to visit the huge market. Ferry building and the colorful Chinatown area. In general, it should be borne in mind that literally in every district of the city there is a large selection of shops, shopping centers and supermarkets, and many of them offer attractive discounts and promotions.

Transport

Urban public transport in San Francisco is represented by an extensive network of bus and trolleybus routes, surface and underground high-speed trams Muni Metro as well as trams. The cost of one trip is $ 1.5, all tickets for the journey can be bought from drivers and at underground stations Muni... It should be borne in mind that they are valid for 1.5 hours on all modes of transport, with the exception of cable trams and suburban metro BART... High-speed trams Muni Metro run from 5:00 to 00:00, however, two lines (L and N) operate around the clock.

In addition, there are a great many taxis in the city that operate at the same rate: $ 3.5 per landing and $ 2.25 for each mile.

Communication

To call anywhere in the world, you can use one of the telephone booths, which are installed on almost all streets of the city, as well as in many public places. Conversations are paid with small coins (cents) or calling cards. In addition, you can make any call from a hotel or a large restaurant.

Mobile communication has excellent quality and uniform coverage, but the frequencies at which it is carried out are not similar to those in Europe.

Internet access is provided in almost all hotels. There are also many access points in the city. Wi-Fi.

Safety

In San Francisco, as in almost any large city, are wielded by pickpockets and all sorts of swindlers. However, if you follow general security measures and do not lose your vigilance in public places, then the likelihood of any trouble is excluded. The greatest caution should be exercised in the Bayview Hunters Point, Visit Valley, Sunnydale, Fillmore District and Mishin ( Mission).

It is also worth noting that there are many beggars and beggars in San Francisco who are advised to simply ignore.

Business climate

San Francisco is the main financial center of the US West Coast, home to such important institutions as the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and Bank of America, as well as many offices of multinational banks, international financial institutions and large insurance companies. San Francisco maintains a small business share, with 85% of city businesses being small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. In addition, the city is home to the world-famous Silicon Valley, where top-class specialists are involved for large-scale production of integrated circuits.

The property

According to many world experts, the San Francisco real estate market is one of the most stable and promising in the country. Moreover, both commercial and residential real estate are widely represented here. It is worth noting that the standard of living in San Francisco is very high, so the prices for the local real estate objects are quite impressive.

However, investments in the local real estate market are currently one of the most promising commercial ventures in the United States.

Budget travelers should keep in mind that San Francisco museums provide free admission several times a month. You can clarify the schedules of such events at any city tourist office. Also, those who expect to devote time to excursions and sightseeing of all sights are advised to purchase a welcome card of the city ( Go Card or CityPASS), which entitles you to discounted tickets to local museums and galleries.

Officially, the city of San Francisco has been called so only since 1847. Previously, this settlement bore the Spanish name Herba Buena, which means "good grass". This name, as you might have guessed, was given by the Spaniards, who arrived here first of the Europeans and declared this territory their colony. In 1776, the Spanish missionary Juan Batista da Anza founded the Mission of Saint Francis of Asia. After 45 years, Herb Buana is already part of Mexico, which declared its independence from Spain.
But in 1848, the United States, due to debt, declares war on Mexico. Mexico is losing the war and is forced to pay off its debts with the loss of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, California and San Francisco. But the city by that time was still very small in number, its population was barely 1 thousand people. It owes its growth to the "Gold Rush" that hovers over the United States and pulls thousands of people to these places. Originating on the southwestern coast of the San Francisco Bay, the city rapidly conquered new territories from the nearby hills. Trying to keep up with New York, the city fathers of San Francisco also paved the streets in slender, chessboard-like rows. This was quite an architectural challenge, considering that San Francisco is nestled among the many hills.

Now the population San Francisco, without suburbs, is 800 thousand people.

San Francisco landmarks

San Francisco city is one of the most popular symbols of the Hollywood industry. Countless film crews on its streets do not surprise anyone for a long time, they just got used to them. Residents of San Francisco are just as tolerant of the large ethnic minorities who have settled here. Spanish or Mexican influences are everywhere; Italians, Chinese, Vietnamese and Cambodians also make up a significant part of the city's population.

The beatnik museum has recently opened in the city. It is located in the North Beach area on Grant Avenue, where famous writers of the 1950s and 1960s generation lived and worked. This literary and youth movement, which arose after World War II, proclaimed voluntary poverty, vagrancy, erotic freedom, anarchic hedonism, detachment from social problems, and a passion for Zen Buddhism. Among the famous authors of this trend are J. Kerouac, A. Ginsberg, L. Ferlinghetti.

In addition to this museum, in San Francisco many other cultural centers: the Museum of Modern Arts, the War Memorial Opera House, the Asian Arts and Culture Center, the Jewish Community Center, the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, etc. There are several museums in the Golden Gate Park, but they fade out under the charm and originality of the park itself ...

The Golden Gate Bridge, which embodies this city, was inaugurated in 1937, but to this day it is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Its length reaches 2,730 meters, with six traffic lanes and two footpaths. From each car for entering San Francisco a few dollars are charged through the Golden Gate.

Another attraction San Francisco- this is the "end of the Earth" in Sutro Park. This is the name of the place where the very last extremity of the continental earth is located in the direction of its rotation around its axis. So, for example, the New Year comes here last. Further along the ocean between San Francisco and Japan passes the prime meridian, from which a new day begins. San Francisco's Chinatown is America's largest Chinatown with endless fish restaurants, pagoda roofs and souvenir shops selling all sorts of trinkets from different countries and continents. In the old part of the city, you can personally see one of the Guinness Book records, the most curved street in the world - Lombard Street.

Geography and climate

San Francisco is located on the west coast of the United States, at the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula. The city's borders are strongly stretched along the coasts of the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of San Francisco. The city includes several islands: Alcatraz, Treasure Island and Yerba Buena. The city also includes the uninhabited Faralon Islands, located at a distance of 43 kilometers in the Pacific Ocean. It is often said that San Francisco is a square with a side of 7 miles (~ 11 kilometers).

San Francisco is famous for its hills. A hill in the city is an elevation of more than 30 meters. There are 42 hills within the city limits, some areas of the city are named after the hills on which they are located (Nob Hill, Pacific Heights, Russian Hill, Potreto Hill and Telegraph Hill).

Not far from the geographical center of the city, a little to the south, there are a number of hills with the lowest population density; here, mainly, the entertainment and information infrastructure of the city prevails. On the Sutro hill there are towers of television and radio transmitters. Nearby are the Twin Peaks Hills, some of the tallest hills in the city and one of the most popular tourist destinations. The highest hill in San Francisco is Mount Davidson, 282 meters high; in 1934 a high cross was built here (its height is 31.4 m).

San Francisco is located near two tectonic faults that cause frequent earthquakes. Small earthquakes in the San Francisco Bay Area occur with periodic consistency. The threat of strong earthquakes presents the city high standards strength of new buildings and forces the rebuilding of early buildings and bridges.

San Francisco's coastline severely restricts the growth of the city, so the sites for several areas such as Marin, Hunter Point and much of the Embarcadero area were artificially made by filling the coastal areas with earth. Treasure Island was built from material obtained from the construction of the bridge across the bay. Such man-made areas are very unstable during the earthquake, as the 1989 earthquake clearly showed, destroying Marin County.

Source: wikipedia.org

Earthquake and fire in 1906

On April 18, 1906, a devastating earthquake struck as the result of the 1,300 km San Andreas Fault, from the city of San Juan Batista to the city of Eureka, centered near San Francisco. According to the data recorded in the YUSGS, the earthquake was 7.8 on the Richter scale. The entire city was flooded, then fires began, which supposedly destroyed 80% of the city, including almost the entire city center. Many residents were trapped between the flood and a fire approaching their areas, it was decided to carry out an evacuation through the bay, which saved many lives. Refugee camps were located in Golden Gate Park, Washen Beach and in other unbuilt parts of the city. Even 2 years after the earthquake, many refugee camps were still functioning. At that time, the "death" bells rang 478 times, but as of 2005, more than 3,000 people were officially killed. With a population of 410,000, up to 300,000 people were left homeless.

- a city that grew out of the "Good Grass".
The administrative center of the county of the same name is located in western California. The largest commercial, financial and industrial city in the American West. The epicenter of the "gold rush" of the 19th century. The capital of all informal youth movements of the 20th century.

San Francisco. What enthusiastic epithets were awarded to him! Beautiful, dazzling, mysterious ... Experts say: San Francisco is the most picturesque city in America. Solid and reliable, with many banks and corporations, and at the same time free and rebellious. He is praised by the staunch romantic Jack London as "the world's home for romantic adventures." And Robert Stevenson remarked: “This is the city of Gold, into which the adventurers are carried by all the winds of the heavens. I am amazed that the charm of a thousand and one nights has become a reality in the lifetime of one generation. "

San Francisco is not very big by American standards. Bounded by the ocean and natural terrain, it covers an area of ​​122 sq. kilometers. And in terms of population (730 thousand) it is not among the ten largest cities in the United States. But, nevertheless, with the suburbs of the Santa Clara Valley and the city of San Jose, San Francisco forms a huge metropolis (6.3 million people). Silicon Valley, where engineers and programmers work and new "high" technologies are created, is just within its borders. The US Electronics Industry Center produces a fifth of the world's electronics.

The city is located at the very tip of the peninsula and is surrounded on three sides by the ocean. But the resort of San Francisco can be called conditionally. It is washed by the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean. A thick fog envelops the city every night, and cool sea breezes disperse it only in the morning. There is no cold winter here, but there is no real hot summer chips either. The temperature throughout the year is kept within + 20 ° C. Mark Twain said about the local weather: “The most Cold winter in my life was in the summer in San Francisco. " Romantics call San Francisco the city of eternal spring, and skeptics call eternal autumn.
"Frisco", "City", "City by the Bay" - these are the nicknames the Americans gave to their favorite. And if California in America is called the "Golden State", then San Francisco can be called the "Golden City". Much in it, one way or another, reminds of a noble metal. The Golden Gate Bay, the bridge that connects the peninsula with the mainland, is the Golden Gate. The beautiful city park is also called the Golden Gate.

But do not forget that the history of the city began much earlier than the time of the "gold rush". The first, in 1542, were the ships of the Portuguese Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, who served the Spanish crown. In 1579 the famous English pirate F. Drake sailed along these shores. But the first settlement was founded only in 1775, when Spanish sailors discovered a bay with a convenient bay. They founded the fort of Presido and the village of Yerba-Buepa in this place, which means "Good grass". It is from this "Good Grass" that the future city actually grew. Later, tireless Spanish missionaries built a church, which received the name of St. Francis of Aziz. In 1848, Mexico lost the war with the United States and handed over to them the upper part of California, which also contained a small seaside village. The Americans began to call the town the same as the church - San Francisco.
The city is counting its prosperity on August 19, 1848. It was on that day that the New York newspaper "Herald" published a sensational report: in California, on the Sacramento River, a gold deposit was discovered. This information was later confirmed by US President James Knox Polk. From that time on, settlers began to arrive in a small town with a population of five hundred in search of happiness. In 1849 the city was inhabited by more than 10,000 adventurers, and in 1850 there were already a hundred thousand. It was not only the Americans who came here for good luck. Chinese, Japanese, Russians, Greeks, Filipinos, Scandinavians, Mexicans, this is not a complete list of nationalities. All of them settled in their communities around the city, forming a kind of conglomerate. Now, traveling around San Francisco, you can get to amazing corners where residents sacredly preserve the traditions of their native places.

Chinatown is San Francisco's Chinatown. It is one of the largest Chinese settlements outside Asia with over 60 thousand people, and the largest in America. Passing the streets of the quarter, you plunge into the unique atmosphere of the Chinese city - numerous buildings in the form of pagodas, ethnic restaurants, souvenir shops. All inscriptions on cafes and shops are duplicated in Chinese and made in an oriental style, and the houses of residents are painted in colors that, according to legends, should bring good luck to their owners. Red gives happiness, green - longevity, yellow promises the owner a good fortune, and black - money.

Describing the history of San Francisco, one cannot but touch upon the "Russian question" in North America. One of the 42 hills on which the city is located is called the Russian Hill. Here in the middle of the XIX century. the graves of Russian fur seal hunters who worked for the Russian-American Company were discovered. And not far from the holy fool, if you go north along Freeway No. 1, there are the restored remains of the wooden fortress Fort Ross, founded by Russian settlers in 1812. It is sad to realize that it was from the Russians that the enterprising American Sutter bought the land on which gold was found for the first time eight years after the sale. Now "Russian quarters" are located in the Richmond area. Russians like others ethnic groups emigrants try to preserve their identity. There are Russian restaurants, Russian cinemas showing exclusively Russian cinema, Russian newspapers, many of which are delivered from Moscow.

California attracts Americans themselves with its own lifestyle, so unlike other states. Not only emigrants from abroad move here, internal immigration is strong here. The incredible mixing of races and peoples in the city has created an extraordinary freedom of morals and tolerance for someone else's way of life. For her free inhabitants, there are absolutely no strict Puritan traditions. The bars of the city have become legendary. The weakness of local residents for strong drinks was emphasized by "Mr. San Francisco" - Herb Kane, a famous local historian who devoted his entire life to studying his city: "San Francisco learned to drink in the days of the gold rush and has been improving in this quality all his life." And in the 50-60s of the XX century. San Francisco became the capital of a world counterculture that challenged the morals and tastes of the world of well-fed and narrow-minded people.

Young rebels Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg created the Beat Generation philosophy and new values ​​in the 1950s, including motorcycle, alcohol, poetry and jazz. You can go to City Light, where Allen Ginsberg read "Howl". Or visit "Lights big city"In North Beach, the former headquarters of the beatniks. Now it is one of the richest and most interesting bookstores in the United States.
Hait Ashbury is the area of ​​San Francisco from which a generation of hippies came to roam the world. Compared to the more aggressive beatniks, the "flower children" preferred passing cars, drugs, oriental teachings and rock. The hippies staged their half-million Summer of Love here in 1967, the culmination of their movement. Now the area for tourists has been put into museum order. One of its attractions is the wildly colored psychedelic bus, on which Ken Kesey, the author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, was brought to a cult following by the Hollywood Czech Miklash Foreman.

Here was born one of the symbols of free America - the famous jeans. Levi Straus' work pants for gold miners have become the iconic clothing of the rebellious generation. The mainstream fashion for them came with the beatniks, from the Hollywood images of James Dean and Marlon Brando. Against the background of all the twists and turns, the history of this clothing is very indicative. She was working, then rebellious, and now the average American or European cannot imagine their life without comfortable everyday trousers.
San Francisco is still one of the world leaders in a non-standard attitude to life. The city is the most famous center of the sexual minority civil rights movement. On Christopher Street, seven-color flags are displayed in the windows of many houses so that no one doubts the sexual orientation of their residents.

San Francisco is located in a seismically dangerous and not - under it is the San Andreas Crevice. Now Oma "behaves" relatively calmly - 100 pushes a month with a force of less than 1 point. In modern homes, such small tremors are almost imperceptible. You only notice them when the paintings on the walls periodically change their position. But there were times when the element showed itself in all its power. Strong earthquakes were noted here in 1812 and 1865. From 1849 to 1852, San Francisco experienced major earthquake fires six times. In 1906 it was almost completely destroyed by a strong earthquake and a large fire that followed. But the city was always rebuilt. It is no coincidence that its coat of arms is decorated with the legendary Phoenix bird, which is reborn not from ashes, but from a ring of flame. After the last destruction, the restoration proceeded at a truly "Stakhanovist" pace. Already in 1915, San Francisco was rebuilt so much that it was able to host the international exhibition "Panama International".
The city's aspiration for constant development is characterized by the fact that during the Great Depression, when the United States was going through its hard times, the brilliant project, which has now become the symbol of San Francisco, was implemented - the Golden Gate Bridge. This is one of the longest (total length - 2730 m, central span - 1280 m) and beautiful bridges in the world. It spreads across the bay and connects the city to the mainland. It has six lanes of car traffic, and there are two walking paths for hikers. Looking down from the bridge, at the fog swirling below, there is a fantastic feeling of flight. The romantic image of the bridge and the strait of the same name was glorified by Jack London: “The Golden Gate really gilded in the rays of the setting sun, and beyond them opened the vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean. Behind them is the Pacific Ocean, China, Japan, India, and ... the Coral Islands. You can sail through the Golden Gate anywhere, to Australia, to Africa, to the seal rookeries, to the North Pole, to Cape Horn. "

The history of the creation of the bridge is very interesting. People began to think about the need for its construction at the very beginning of the 20th century, when cars appeared in the life of citizens. The initial estimate for the project was $ 100 million.
The amount was really very substantial, so such projects were not taken seriously. But Joseph Strauss, an experienced engineer, said that the construction would be completed in the amount of 27 million. By the way, the actual estimate did not exceed the promised by much - by 8 million. Construction began in 1933, and in 1937 the bridge was inaugurated. From now on, the city can be accessed directly from the mainland, paying $ 3 per car. And at the entrance to the bridge there is a bronze figure of engineer Joseph Strauss, protecting his brainchild from all kinds of troubles.

In some ways the city is typically American, in others it has its own unique features. Rebuilding several times after the fires, each time it became a little different, reflecting the inclinations and tastes of its architects. The central street of San Francisco is Markst Street. It was drawn by the Irishman Jasper O'Farrell diagonally to the already paved streets, taking as a model the Champs Elysees in Paris. As elsewhere, the city center is decorated with huge skyscrapers made of glass, steel and concrete. For example, the office of the Transamerica corporation, built in 1972, is a pyramidal building, 260 meters high. Or a complex of five skyscrapers - "Embarcodero Center", designed by D. Portman.

The San Francisco Community Center is located in John Marshall Square, named after the carpenter who first discovered gold. The majestic, classical-style gray granite buildings were declared a national landmark in 1978. The building of the City Hall (Town Hall), built in 1915, is also located here, a subject of special pride for the townspeople. The dome of the Town Hall is modeled on the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the main Catholic church. It is 102m high and 4m taller than the Washington State Capitol.

Despite its business rhythm, San Francisco disposes to leisurely walks. It is very good to walk here on foot or on special sightseeing trams - cable cars. The city even has a museum dedicated to the citizens' favorite species of Grandsporg. The tram goes up the "humped" streets with the help of steel ropes. Differences in the heights of the hilly terrain are practically not felt here. On the contrary, each new road turn opens another facet of the beautiful city. Almost all of modern San Francisco was built up before 1935. Since the 50s of the XX century. the construction of gelsto in the city, limited by the natural relief of the area, was reduced. In the 90s, a moratorium was declared on the demolition of any buildings. Therefore, houses built in the Victorian style are replaced by buildings in the neoclassical style. Further you can see the luxurious Italian mansions and Moorish turrets - the Palace of Fine Arts, the community center, the Morris store. From the height of the Coit Tower, you can admire the opening panorama of the city with its sights - Telegraph Hill, Fort San Francisco, Historic ships (historical ships).

There are a lot of museums in the city, and they all differ in variety - from serious academic to interesting everyday ones: the Museum of Asian Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the California Palace of the Legion of Honor. M. H. de Young Memorial Painting Museum, Wells Farto History Museum, Maritime Museum, Wine Museum. They exhibit collections of antiques, works of art, including ancient Indian.
There are more than 140 theaters in the city, of which the most famous are the Opera House, the Alcazar Theater, the Orpheus Theater, as well as concert halls - Curran, Little Fox, On Broadway.

San Francisco - major center science and education. The most famous educational establishments- University of San Francisco, Department of the University of California, San Francisco State University, Conservatory. It also houses the California Academy of Sciences, founded in 1853. It runs the Morrison Planetarium and the Steinhart Aquarium, which are open to tourists.
A distinctive feature of the city is its streets. Some of them have a slope of up to 35 degrees. Cars park at an acute angle to the sidewalk, otherwise they will roll, despite the most reliable brakes. The steepest and winding street in the world is Lombard Street, which is located on Russian Hill. Laid in the 20s of the XX century, it became one of the symbols of the city and entered the Kish Guinness World Records. The circular slope of the hill gives the street a broken shape. Without zigzags, going downhill would be like moving down the slope of a ski jump. Perhaps without snow.

The rather dense development still provides space for flowers and trees. There are over 130 parks in the city.
Among them is the most and (local "Golden Gate" - National Recreation Area. Powerful green area is the pride of not only the residents of San Francisco. This is the largest urban man-made park in the United States, it covers an area of ​​411 hectares. It is difficult to imagine that such beauty was created The park was laid out on a sandy stretch of the sea shore, the sand was reinforced with grass, and the territory was fenced off from the winds from the Pacific Ocean.
All lakes, waterfalls, green valleys and hills here are created by caring human hands. Walking along the paths of the park (their total length is 43 km), you can enter the Rhododendron Valley, where the most significant collection of these plants in the world is collected, or visit the elegant Japanese Garden with a traditional Japanese house for tea ceremonies, and your feet will lead to the exquisite Garden of Aromas , or the Bible garden.

You cannot pass by the romantic Garden of Shakespeare's Flowers. The author of this "literary and botanical" masterpiece is Alice Eastwood. According to experts, she "created a collection full of poetic harmony." There is a wall in the garden, into which are mounted six bronze slabs with 88 quotes from Shakespeare. In the center of the wall there is a safe, which contains a copy of the sculptural portrait of the great playwright, made from a death mask in 1620 by G. Johnson. This rarity (there are only two such portraits) was transferred to the garden from the inhabitants of Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare died.
The Botanical Garden of the California Academy of Sciences is also located on the territory of the park complex. Here, the natural science collection contains more than 500 plant species from all over the world.

Park "Golden Gate" is a favorite place for recreation of the townspeople. Here you can not only admire nature, but also arrange a festive picnic. Or listen to one of the many open-air concerts. And for roller skaters it is a traditional gathering place. But this park could not contain all the natural attractions of San Francisco. For example, in Sutro Park there is the End of Land, the westernmost point of the continental surface of the Earth in the direction of its rotation around its axis.
If we talk about the nature of the city, one cannot fail to mention the majestic Pacific Ocean, its beaches and embankments. There is a constant surf here. Observing the endless full distance, you renounce everything earthly, from the anxieties and worries of the crazy rhythm of life. On the piers and breakwaters, you can see the seals' rookeries basking in the sun. Residents of the city tell funny stories about how you can face these funny animals in the water "face to face". The beaches are located at Point Reyes, and although the water is fairly cool, there is no shortage of people who want to swim and sunbathe.

The finishing touch of the city's specialties is the local cuisine. Fast food restaurants are not particularly favored by the townspeople. Residents of San Francisco know a lot about the sophisticated niche. Here they catch the most delicious crabs in the world, white sturgeon, and Chikun salmon. Fine restaurants on Rybachya Naberezhnaya ns will leave indifferent even the most discerning gourmet.
Yes, San Francisco is one of the most beautiful and distinctive cities in the United States. And Robert Stevenson very correctly said at one time: "San Francisco has only one drawback: it is difficult to leave."

San Francisco began as a city of adventurers obsessed with the glitter of the Gold Rush and the possibility of instant enrichment. From a small settlement of Yerba Buena, it has grown to a large modern city that today attracts thousands of tourists.

Unfortunately, everything that was built before 1906 has practically not survived. As a result of a large-scale earthquake, old San Francisco ceased to exist. But gradually a new one began to appear - with magnificent squares, business districts and huge parks.

There are many amazing places in the city - this is Pier 39 with a colony of Californian lions, settled right in the city limits, and a mysterious prison island, and a group of Victorian mansions that miraculously survived. In short, everyone can find a sight to their liking.

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What to see and where to go in San Francisco?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

1. Golden Gate Bridge

The main transport artery of Northern California and a recognizable symbol of San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge was opened to traffic in 1937. The design is loved not only by motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. Many filmmakers have filmed Golden Gate in their films. The grandiose flying spans of red can be seen in the films Interview with the Vampire, Terminator 4, Superman and others. The bridge was designed by D. Strauss, I. Morrow and C. Ellis. The structure is 2737 meters long and 27 meters wide.

2. Alcatraz

Former prison on an island in the San Francisco Bay. This place became famous for the fact that well-known and especially dangerous criminals were kept here under the strictest protection. Until it closed in 1963, not a single person managed to escape from Alcatraz and survive. In 1969, the island was occupied by Indian chiefs who protested against the government and believed that the Americans had occupied their rightful lands by force. At the moment, Alcatraz has been turned into a museum.

3. Presidio of San Francisco

San Francisco Bay Park, next to the Golden Gate Bridge. At the end of the 18th century, Spanish fortifications were located on this site. Then, for more than 200 years, this territory was occupied by military base... And in 1994 they arranged national park... The park has paths for walking and cycling. The most popular is the coastal trail.

4. Cable car

Historic public transport that began operating in 1873. The cable car moves like a funicular along a cable car, that is, the engine is not in the car itself, but in the depot at the substation. Now this transport is used more as a tourist attraction, but the system is capable of carrying up to 7 million passengers per year. In the middle of the XX century, there was a serious struggle to preserve the historical line, as a result, after several reconstructions, it was decided to leave the tram.

5. Union Square

One of the central squares of San Francisco, located in the area of ​​the same name. It is surrounded by huge shopping malls, boutiques, hotels, gift shops, restaurants, salons and galleries. Life here is in full swing around the clock and does not stop for a minute. The square is the starting point for exploring the city; locals make dates and business meetings here.

6. Girardelli Square

The famous square of the city, which has become a symbol of renewal. At the end of the 19th century, a cloth factory was located on this site, then a chocolate factory. The renovation of the square began in 1962, when William Roth bought out the entire block and organized the reconstruction of the square. Currently, it is a restaurant and shopping complex. The former clock tower houses the Fairmont Heritage Place.

7. Lombard Street

A picturesque street, or rather, a 400-meter section of the highway, located on the Russian Hill. Lombard Street is famous for being in the form of a winding ribbon that descends at a rather steep angle to the track. For cars, this is a rather difficult section of the road, for tourists it is an interesting sight like an attraction. The road surface of the street is made of red brick, green lawns are planted along the edges.

8. Park "Golden Gate"

A city park with a fairly extensive territory (area is about 400 hectares), which begins in the city center and ends on the ocean coast. Inside there are artificial lakes, hills, islands, waterfalls, dunes, plains, and there are also several museums. The park has all the conditions for sports, walking, cycling and just relaxing. In terms of attendance, Golden Gate is second only to Central Park in New York.

9. Painted ladies

A group of Victorian houses that survived the 1906 earthquake. The attraction is located on the territory of the elite urban quarter of Nob Hill. The houses got the name "Painted Ladies" thanks to their architecture and bright exterior colors, which were worked on by B. Kardum in 1963. Picturesque wooden facades of buildings are decorated with balconies, towers, verandas and other architectural delights.

10. Fisherman's Wharf

Tourist port area, which is famous for the abundance of fish restaurants, shops, museums. Ferries to Alcatraz leave from here, as well as a cable car line. During the Gold Rush, Fisherman's Wharf became a habitat for unlucky gold prospectors who started fishing in order to somehow feed themselves. There is a Marine Historical Park on the territory of the district.

11. Pier 39

A marina with a wide range of entertainment options, a popular destination for visitors and residents of San Francisco. The main attraction of Pier 39 is the California sea lion rookery. For animals in the water, special wooden platforms have been built, on which they rest and bask in the sun in whole flocks. In total, about 1500 lions live in the pier area; they first appeared in the bay in 1989.

12. Chinatown

A vibrant and colorful Chinatown with traditional red lanterns and pagodas. Chinatown is not only a place of residence for immigrants from the Middle Kingdom, but also a popular tourist attraction. The area began to take shape in the middle of the 19th century and became home to numerous Chinese refugees from Guangdong province. For more than 150 years of history, the quarter has grown and acquired its own infrastructure.

13. The Castro Quarter

A small urban area with a large population of sexual minorities. On the streets of the quarter, rainbow flags of the LGBT community are hung everywhere. Local attractions are dedicated to the history of the emergence and development of the gay movement, as well as its struggle for equality. There is the Museum of LGBT History, the famous gay club Twin Peaks with glass walls, and the Pink Triangle Park.

14. Grace Cathedral

The construction of the temple began in 1906 after the earthquake and lasted for over 50 years. Due to the seismic instability of the territory, the architect had to abandon the additional elements of the facade decoration, as they could collapse during a natural disaster. The interior of the cathedral is made in the neo-Gothic style with numerous stained-glass windows, frescoes and massive bronze gates.

15. Palace of Fine Arts

The structure is located on the shore of an artificial lake. It is not a palace in the literal sense; the structure is an open arched white stone colonnade surrounded by a picturesque park. In fact, the Palais des Beaux-Arts is a sturdier replica of a 1915 exhibit called the Gem Tower. The design was so fond of the inhabitants of San Francisco that they called it a palace and decided to save it for the city.

16. Palace of the Legion of Honor

Museum located in Lincoln Park. Built in 1922-1924 by the tycoon Speckels. He and his wife have put together a unique collection of works of art and historical items... The earliest exhibits of antiquity date back to the 4th century BC. Works of art form the basis of the museum's collection. Including, these are the works of El Greco, Rubens, Monet.

17. Cable car museum

The cable car is a hybrid of a cable car, funicular and tram. The museum of this unusual vehicle is located in the building of the operating depot. In it you can see the types of cable cars from different times, see how the cable moves. The first carriages are also on display in the museum. The history of the creation and development of the cable car is presented in the form of a photo gallery.

18. Museum of Contemporary Art (SFMOMA)

The largest museum on the West Coast of the United States and the second most popular in the entire country. It exhibits works by contemporary artists who worked in the XX-XXI centuries. Among the exhibits there are works by Pollock, Klee, Matisse, Saarinen, Warhol and other eminent masters. The gallery was opened in 1935, and in 1995 an original modern building was built for it, designed by M. Bott.

19. Science Museum Exploratorium

An interactive exhibition founded by experimental physicist F. Oppenheimer in 1969. Some visitors call it "the museum of the mad scientist". Oppenheimer himself could not hold academic positions after being accused of anti-American activities. He took a job as a science teacher in high school. At this time, he made many experiments to study the properties of the environment and materials, which became the preparations for the future museum.

20. De Young Museum

The exposition is located on the territory of the Golden Gate Park. It was founded by M. de Young, a journalist for a local news agency. The exhibition halls house a collection of objects and works of art belonging to the period of the 17th - 21st centuries. - paintings, clothes, furniture, etc. Basically, the exhibits were collected in the Americas, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.

21. California Academy of Sciences

The Natural History Museum, which is also a serious scientific organization. The Academy was founded in the middle of the 19th century. The team is engaged in educational work, organizing exhibitions and conducting scientific research in various fields, which include marine botany, ichthyology, ornithology, paleontology, anthropology and other disciplines.

22. Museum of Asian Art

The exposition is housed in a building that previously belonged to the Public Library. The museum displays exhibits brought from various parts of the Asian region. There is also a shop at the gallery where you can buy jewelry, Chinese porcelain, silk and various antiques. Free guided tours are organized around the museum.

23. Walt Disney Family Museum

The museum opened to the public in 2009 thanks to the efforts of the daughter of a famous cartoonist. The building is located in the Presidio Park. Here is a collection of personal belongings of W. Disney, his sketches and sketches, models and other exhibits. One of the walls of the building, where the exhibition is located, is made of glass. Thanks to this, you can admire the picturesque views of the San Francisco Bay.

24. Marine National Historical Park

Open-air museum in the bay. It includes several facilities: the library, the museum itself, the marina and the visitor center. The exposition is dedicated to the history of shipbuilding and navigation, as well as some events of the US naval history. At the pier, you can see the historic ships of the XIX-XX centuries. The museum library contains old documents - drawings, archives and maps.

25. City Hall

The building of the city hall of 1915, built in the elegant architectural style of Bozar according to the project of A. Brown Jr. The building is crowned with a monumental dome, marble decoration prevails in the interior, statues of the mayors of San Francisco are installed in the corridors. For tourists, excursions around the City Hall are organized, or you can go inside on your own - on weekdays, admission is free.

26. Ferry Building

The largest market in San Francisco, very popular with tourists. The shopping area is located in the ferry terminal building, which is located in central San Francisco. In addition to shops with a wide selection of drinks and quality products, the market has cafes, ready-to-eat stalls and shops with products from local farms.

27. Transamerica

Skyscraper pyramid, the most high building in San Francisco. The construction of the structure was completed in the 1970s. The tower is 260 meters high and has 48 floors, where offices and various retail premises are located. 1.5 thousand people come to work here every day. Tourists cannot climb to the top of the tower, since only the first floor is open for free visits.

28. Coit Tower

The structure is located at the top of the Telegraph Hill. The tower is architectural monument difficult period in the history of the United States - the Great Depression (1930s). Inside the walls, the buildings are painted with frescoes showing the current themes of those years: economic difficulties, unemployment, social protest. There are even drawings depicting sympathy for communist ideas.

29. Westfield-San Francisco Center

Shopping center and entertainment complex located in the central part of San Francisco. The interior of the building is made in a somewhat pompous style for such a place; many structures are decorated with gilding and marble. Inside the mall there are more than 170 high-end stores and several expensive restaurants. Westfield opened in 1988.

30. AT&T Park

Baseball stadium, which is located in one of the suburbs of San Francisco. It is an important sports facility and a popular tourist attraction. The arena is home to the San Francisco Giants (a member of the US Major League Baseball). AT&T Park is not only capable of hosting matches, but also great for concerts, festivals and other large-scale social events.

31. Japanese tea garden

A traditional Japanese-style garden located within the Golden Gate City Park. In 1894, it was a temporary exhibit at the World's Fair, but later turned into a permanent garden. For a long time, the gardener-emigrant from Japan M. Hagiwara took care of the park. Through his work, visitors can admire the picturesque alleys, pagodas, streams, cherry blossoms, arched bridges and stone statues.

32. Twin Peaks

A hill with an observation deck offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. There is a natural park on the slopes. It is best to arrive at the site before sunset. At this time, the sun's rays flood San Francisco with golden light and bright reflections play in the waters of the bay. According to many tourists, no skyscraper observation deck can compare with Twin Peaks.

33. Lands End Trail

Hiking trail at the "end of the earth" - this is the name of the tip of San Francisco from the northwest. The trail runs through thickets of cypress and eucalyptus along the winding cliffs of the ocean. From here, a picturesque view of the main attractions of the area opens up - the Pacific Ocean, the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. The trail is laid away from civilized places, so it is not recommended to go off it. Wildlife can be dangerous.

34. Ocean Beach

A beach on the Pacific Ocean, located at the western edge of the Golden Gate Park. The Great Highway runs along the beach. The water in this place is quite cool, and in summer there can be fogs at a temperature of only 9 ° C. It is best to visit the beach in late autumn or early spring. Ocean Beach is the most attractive for surfing, but there are often dangerous currents here.

35.Baker Beach

A small beach 800 meters long located in the northwestern part of San Francisco. It's great for hiking, barbecuing or sunbathing, but the water is too cold for swimming. From the beach, the Golden Gate Bridge is perfectly visible, framed by picturesque coastal hills. Baker Beach is quite popular among nudists; the north side of the beach is specially designated for them.

(English)

Golden fever

San Francisco 1855

As with many mountain cities, the social climate in early San Francisco was unstable. This situation caused a great resonance in the US Senate, and the Compromise Acts of 1850 sparked feuds over the issue of "hard labor". In, and then in the year, the "Vigilance Committee" was created, which fought against crime, corruption in government circles and violence against immigrants, but perhaps this committee created more lawlessness than it prevented. This popular movement lynched 12 people, kidnapped hundreds of Irish people, government officials and forced the city's elected officials to resign. Twice the "Vigilance Committee" was stopped by the use of force, after which it was decided that the city was "cleaned out". This committee later focused on immigrants from China, causing much unrest in the Chinatown area. These riots led to the creation of a law to weaken Chinese immigration to the United States by reducing the allowed number of immigrants in the city. The "Chinese Immigration Act" was passed in a year, and canceled only in a year.

Market Street

The city of San Francisco has been the county seat of San Francisco from up to a year. But due to the fact that the population of the city was greatly out of proportion to the population of the entire county, the California state government decided to split the county. The border ran across the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, just north of Mount San Bruno. Anything south of the line became the new San Mateo County, centered in Redwood City, and everything to the north became the new unified city-county of San Francisco.

The period after the 2nd world war

Geography and climate

San Francisco. Satellite image

San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco is located on the west coast of the United States, at the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula. The city's borders are strongly stretched along the coasts of the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of San Francisco. The city includes several islands: Alcatraz, Treasure Island and Yerba Buena. The city also includes the uninhabited Faralon Islands, located at a distance of 43 kilometers in the Pacific Ocean. It is often said that San Francisco is a square with a side of 7 miles (~ 11 kilometers).

San Francisco is famous for its hills. A hill in the city is an elevation of more than 30 meters. There are 42 hills within the city limits, some areas of the city are named after the hills on which they are located (Nob Hill, Pacific Heights, Russian Hill, Potreto Hill and Telegraph Hill).

Not far from the geographical center of the city, a little to the south, there are a number of hills with the lowest population density; here, mainly, the entertainment and information infrastructure of the city prevails. On the Sutro hill there are towers of television and radio transmitters. Nearby are the Twin Peaks Hills, some of the tallest hills in the city and one of the most popular tourist destinations. The highest hill in San Francisco is Mount Davidson, 282 meters high; in 1934 a high cross was built here (its height is 31.4 m).

San Francisco is located near two tectonic faults that cause frequent earthquakes. Small earthquakes in the San Francisco Bay Area occur with periodic consistency. The threat of severe earthquakes is placing high standards on the strength of new buildings and forcing the rebuilding of early buildings and bridges.

San Francisco's coastline limits the growth of the city, so some areas such as Marin, Hunter Point and much of the Embarcadero area have been built up with coastal backfill. The artificial island of Treasure Island was built from material obtained from the construction of a bridge across the bay. These areas are highly unstable in the event of earthquakes, as the 1989 earthquake highlighted, causing massive destruction in Marin County.

Climate

The saying, mistakenly attributed to Mark Twain, reads, "The coldest winter I have ever experienced is the summer of San Francisco." San Francisco, influenced by the California Mediterranean climate, is characterized by mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. San Francisco is surrounded on 3 sides by water, so its climate is strongly influenced by the cold currents of the Pacific Ocean, which produce a mild climate with little seasonal temperature fluctuations. The city's average summer temperature is 21 ° C, which is 9 ° C lower than Livermore, the closest city within the continent. The record for the highest temperature in San Francisco is 39 ° C, it was recorded on July 14 of the year. For comparison: the warmest month is September - 17.2 ° C, which is colder than June in Moscow, although the latitude of the city south of Baku is at the level of Ashgabat. However, the average daily temperatures are above 16 ° C from the beginning of May to the end of October. The daytime temperature in winter is about 15 ° C. Thermometer readings in the city almost never fall below 0, the lowest temperature was recorded on December 11 of the year, when it dropped to -3 ° C. The season from May to September is completely dry, the rainy season starts in November and lasts until March. Snow is very rare in San Francisco, with only 10 snowfalls since the year. The heaviest snowfall in the city was on February 5, when the snow level in the city center reached 3.7 inches. The last snowfall was on February 5 of the year.

Fog looming over Chrissy Field

The combination of the cold ocean water and the high air temperature of the California mainland leads to the creation of a unique phenomenon - the San Franciscan fog, which in summer can envelop the city (especially its western part, in the eastern regions the fog is less dense) all day long. Fogs are active in the city in late summer and from September to October. Fogs, California's hot climate and ocean influences make San Francisco its own microclimate. High hills in the geographic center of the city are responsible for a 20% discrepancy in annual rainfall in different areas. They also protect the eastern counties from the fogs and cold conditions that prevail in Sunset County. For those on the east side of the city, San Francisco is sunnier and drier.

The San Francisco government consists of 2 equal branches. The first branch is the executive, headed by the mayor and other elected officials. The second branch is legislative, it consists of 11 members that make up the city council, headed by the president (in 2006, Aaron Peskin). The president is responsible for passing laws and passing the budget, although city residents have the opportunity to directly influence the legislature by voting. City councilors are elected as representatives of the different districts of the city. If the mayor dies or resigns, his powers will be transferred to the president of the council, such a case occurred in the year when George Mosconi was killed and his powers passed to Diana Feinstein. The city's budget for the year was more than $ 5 billion.

The federal government uses San Francisco to host various departments such as the US Court of Appeals, the Federal Reserve Bank, and the Mint. Before disarmament in the year, there were 3 military bases in the city: Presidio, Treasure Island and Hunter's Point. The only inheritance from them was the holiday of the fleet. San Francisco is home to the California Supreme Court and a number of other state institutions. There are 30 diplomatic missions in San Francisco different countries the world, including the Consulate General Russian Federation.

Demography

In San Francisco in 2005, the average household earned an average of $ 57,496, the 5th largest city in the United States. In line with the national trend to move from more expensive cities in pursuit of higher incomes, many middle-class residents have left San Francisco, affecting the percentage of children. There are 14.5% fewer children in the city compared to other large cities in the country. In San Francisco, 7.8% are poor families, less than the US average.

Homelessness has been a "chronic disease" of San Francisco since the 1980s. The city has more homeless people per capita than any other city in the United States. A large number of homeless people have contributed to the increase in criminal activity. For example, in 2003, San Francisco had 5,725 violent crimes and 38,163 property crimes, more than the national average. Among the 50 largest cities by population, San Francisco ranks 32nd for violent crime and 38th for property crime.

Religion in San Francisco County

• Catholics - 180,798 and 49 religious communities
• Jews - 49.500 and 36 religious communities
• Muslims - 22.664 and 6 religious communities
• Scientologists - tens of thousands
• United Methodist Church (Protestant Methodists) - 13.522 and 16 religious communities
• Episcopal Church (Protestants) - 6.295 and 19 religious communities
• All religious - 324.882 and 408 religious communities
• Total population 386.816

Russian San Francisco

In San Francisco and the suburbs, there is a significant (about 20 thousand people) Russian-speaking community, many live in the Richmond area. This area is famous for the abundance of Russian restaurants and shops. The city has a Russian cultural center, founded in the year. The Consulate General of the Russian Federation traces its history back to pre-revolutionary Russia, and has been working in the prestigious area of ​​Pacific Heights for a year.

Education

San Francisco State University is part of the California State University System. It is located near Lake Merced. The university annually graduates 30,000 students and accepts newcomers, teachers, many with advanced degrees, teach more than a hundred disciplines. San Francisco City College, located in Inglisade County, is considered one of the largest colleges in the country. It teaches about 100,000 students and offers an ongoing program of study. The Jesuit University of San Francisco was founded in 1855, and today it is located in the Lone Mountain area. The university focuses on the free-thinking arts and is one of the oldest universities to be founded west of the Mississippi River.

The University of California, San Francisco is one of the 10 campuses of the University of California, and the 2nd employer in the city. The university is dedicated to biomedical research and only graduates students with a medical degree, it is ranked in the top 5 medical schools in the United States. The university has a medical center KUSF, which is one of the top 10 hospitals in the state. In 2003, a new 43-acre KUSF campus opened, dedicated to research in the human mind, biotechnology and the study of human behavior. The Civic Center area is home to the Hastings College of Law, founded in 1878, the oldest college of law in California and graduates more judges than any other institution.

Many specialists in the visual arts have studied at the San Francisco Institute of the Arts or at the largest in the United States, the private Academy of Arts. San Francisco is home to the only conservatory on the west coast, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, which teaches orchestral instruments. The California Culinary Academy, as part of the Le Cordon Bleu program, offers applicants to study the art of cooking and baking, as well as restaurant management.

Primary and secondary schools

San Francisco residents have a large selection of public schools, but in most cases they prefer to send their children to high school Lowell, the oldest school west of the Mississippi River, and a small School of the Arts. Compared to 10% in the country, in San Francisco, just under 30% of schoolchildren study in one of 100 private or parish schools. Of these 100 schools, 40 fall under the control of the Roman Catholic Church of San Francisco.

Among the many private schools, there are 2 schools: St. Ignatius Preparatory College and the Sacred Heart School. Both schools are the oldest and most implacable rivals. Every year, schools organize a Bruce Mahoney competition in honor of the memory of 2 schoolchildren who were killed during World War II.

Infrastructure

Roads and freeways

Due to the unique geography that often impeded road construction, and due to the results of the “road revolution” in the late 50s, San Francisco is one of the few US cities to choose a European arterial road layout over a large highway network. Residents of the city continue to follow this course, choosing, after the earthquake of Loma Prieta, the complete destruction of the Embarcadero motorway and part of the central motorway, turning them into boulevards.

Several major highways run through the city, connecting the north of the west coast to the south, or the west coast to the center of the mainland. I-80 to New York begins at the approach to the Bay Bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland, the only direct road access to the east coast of the Bay. Federal Highway 101 connects San Francisco with San Jose (heading south) and Marin Okrug (heading north, across the Golden Gate Bridge). The CA-1 road also crosses the Golden Gate Bridge. The I-280 motorway, starting in the city, also connects it to San Jose. CA-35, which runs along the ridge of the Santa Cruz Mountains, enters the city along Skyline Boulevard in southern San Francisco. The busiest streets in the city are considered to be Geary Boulevard, Lincoln Way, Fall Street, Market Street and Portola Drive.

Public transport

Cable tram

In addition to intracity transport, San Francisco has a developed suburban communication system. There is a kind of subway in the city, the work of which is provided by the BART agency. BART is a regional rapid transit system that connects San Francisco to the east coast through the Transbay Tunnel, and also operates the San Mateo, San Francisco National Airport and Millbrae routes. The Caltrane rail system links San Francisco to San Jose.

The Transbay Terminal transport complex serves the stations of a large number of bus systems, such as AC Transit, samTrans and Golden gate transit... The San Francisco - Emirville bus route is served by a system located 21 km south of the city, in San Mateo County, it is under the jurisdiction of the City-County of San Francisco. This is the center for