La Jolla Caves & San Diego Trivia

After an influx of immigrants in the 1800s (more than 12,000 Asian workers came across the Pacific to work on the railroad in 1868 alone), rising prejudice led to stringent immigration laws. These harsh restrictions started what came to be the first commercial smuggling cargo event in San Diego and throughout the United States. La Jolla caves were the ultimate hideout and shelter for local pirates who were looking to make money off of cheap labor. However, today seals and sea lions are the primary visitors of these caves rather than pirates!

The seven caves are from east to west: White Lady, Little Sister, Shopping Cart, Sea Surprize, Arch Cave, Sunny Jim, & Clam’s Cave

Sea Surprize may look small on the outside, but it actually offers quite a bit to see. It is said to cover an additional 80 feet of walking passage beyond the entrance. Several explorers mention the sight of orange streaks on the walls above a gorgeous pool of water that contains what is believed to be calcite-coated anemones.

The White Lady cave is said to be named after the bride that was swept to her death near the entrance of the cave. The story goes that in the 1800s, she and her new husband went to La Jolla for their honeymoon. One day, the woman went shell hunting near the caves and was swallowed by the waves when the tide kicked in. She was quickly swept into the water before anyone could do anything to save her. Her body was never found. Today, there are stories of visitors that claim to see the white lady roaming the cave after dark.

Cowles Mountain, the highest point in the city at 1,591 feet (485 m);[8] Black Mountain at 1,558 feet (475 m); and Mount Soledad at 824 feet (251 m).

It originates in the Cuyamaca Mountains northwest of the town of Julian, then flows to the southwest until it reaches the El Capitan Reservoir, the second-largest reservoir in the river's watershed at 112,800 acre-feet (139,100,000 m3).

The bay, which is 12 miles (19 km) long and 1 to 3 miles (1.6 to 4.8 km) wide, is the third largest of the three large, protected natural bays on California's 840 miles (1,350 km) of coastline, after San Francisco Bay and Humboldt Bay.

While elevation ranges, Wikipedia states that San Diego's lowest elevation is 0 feet!