Today’s first for the “one new thing a day for 100 days” new years resolution was to scope out Shark Fin Cove just south of Davenport, CA. I had to drive up to San Francisco for work and this item list was conveniently right on the way.. a must see! While it is clearly a gem that one could spend a Sunday afternoon enjoying, a quick ten minute visit is well worth it..
The main geologic feature has inspired two interchangeable names: Shark Fin Cove and Shark Tooth Beach. Keep in mind this is not the same spot as Davenport Cove (which sits further north)
Shark Fin Rock
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years ago the shark fin was an extension of the mudstone cliff that encloses this beach. Over the years, the force of the crashing waves and whistling winds steadily eroded away the rock in a process called coastal geomorphology.
The rock now stands as we see it today: A small island that catches the light at sunset so compellingly that photographers travel from all over the country to capture its timeless beauty.
Sea Cave
The other magical feature you will see on this exploration is the sea cave. When the ocean has dumped tons of sand onto the beach, a small cave forms on the southeast side of the beach. If you’re lucky, the lapping water will have excavated the cave for you, revealing a hole in the cliff, large enough to walk through. Photographers love to visit the beach during this time because the hole perfectly frames the waves crashing into shark fin rock and the other sea stacks that stand like sentries over the cove.
This cave was also formed as the hydraulic action of the waves slowly eroded away the rock. Hundreds of years from now the cave may open up and form an arch which will eventually collapse and leave yet another free standing island of rock.
GET FIT WITH KATE 