Ruth Haines
Alameda is a city in California, USA, located in the East Bay region of the Bay Area. The city is built on an informal archipelago in San Francisco Bay, consisting of Alameda Island, Bay Farm Island, and Coast Guard Island, along with other smaller islands. Alameda Municipal Airport, which opened in 1929, was located near the western tip of Alameda Point. The airport had a short runway, an administration building, and three aircraft hangars. The airport was later redeveloped as NAS Alameda, with the land forming the northwestern edge of the naval base. Today, the area of the former NAS is known as Alameda Point. Alameda's Airport Lagoon has been mentioned in news reports as the site of a humpback whale sighting in 2019, with the whale appearing to be in poor health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Alameda, California, United States |
| Type | Lagoon |
| Nearby Landmarks | Oakland International Airport, Alameda Municipal Airport, Alameda Pier, Ferry Terminal, San Francisco Bay |
| Transportation | Bus, Ferry, Light Rail, BART |
| Historical Significance | Site of a former seaplane record-setting flight in 1935 |
| Population | As of 2020, Alameda had a population of 78,280 |
| Etymology | The name "Alameda" is derived from the Spanish words meaning "tree-lined path," "grove of poplar trees," or "tree-lined avenue." |
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What You'll Learn
- Alameda, CA: A city in Alameda County, California, US
- Airport Lagoon: Home to a humpback whale in 2019
- Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal: Accessible by bus, ferry, light rail or BART
- NAS Alameda: Former Naval Air Station at the west end of Alameda Island
- Oakland International Airport: Abuts the eastern border of Alameda's Bay Farm Island
Alameda, CA: A city in Alameda County, California, US
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States, located in the East Bay region of the Bay Area. The city is built on an informal archipelago in San Francisco Bay, consisting of Alameda Island, Bay Farm Island, and Coast Guard Island, along with other smaller islands. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 78,280.
Alameda's nickname is "The Island", and the city consists of three major sections: Alameda Island, Bay Farm Island, and Coast Guard Island. Alameda Island is the main original section of the city, created by dredging a channel between Oakland to the north, with the former Naval Air Station Alameda (NAS Alameda) at the west end. South Shore, along the southern side of Alameda Island, is separated from the main part of the island by a lagoon; the north shore of the lagoon. The area of the former NAS is now known as "Alameda Point."
The city of Alameda was founded on June 6, 1853, following the Mexican-American War of 1848 and the subsequent acquisition of California by the United States. The name "Alameda" is Spanish for "grove of poplar trees" or "tree-lined avenue" and was chosen in 1853 as the city's official name by popular vote. At the time, Alameda comprised three small settlements: Woodstock, on the west near the ferry piers of the South Pacific Coast and the Central Pacific Railroads; West End, a residential neighbourhood; and Alameda, the central area of the city.
Alameda has a rich history and has been home to several notable people, including American organic and computational chemist Norman Allinger and mining engineer Albert Arents. It is also known for its artistic and cultural offerings, including the landmark Art Deco movie theatre, the Alameda Theatre, designed by architect Timothy L. Pflueger and opened in 1932; the Altarena Playhouse, the longest-continuously operating community theatre in the San Francisco Bay Area; and "Spirits Alley," a cluster of artisan distilleries, wineries, breweries, and tasting rooms along Monarch Street at Alameda Point.
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Airport Lagoon: Home to a humpback whale in 2019
Airport Lagoon, located in Alameda, California, is a body of water that sits off the San Francisco Bay. Alameda, affectionately known as "The Island", is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is situated in the East Bay region of the Bay Area, comprising Alameda Island, Bay Farm Island, Coast Guard Island, and several smaller islands.
In June 2019, a humpback whale made an unexpected appearance in Airport Lagoon. The whale, an adult female, had been circling the waters near Alameda for about a week before her presence was reported to the Marine Mammal Center on May 27. Experts at the center expressed concern about the whale's health, noting that she had an unusually long stay in the Bay and appeared to be malnourished and in poor condition. They attributed her extended stay to her poor health, suggesting that she sought shelter from the open waters in the protective cove of the lagoon.
The humpback whale's presence in Airport Lagoon attracted the attention of onlookers and scientists alike. The Marine Mammal Center spokesman, Giancarlo Rulli, stated that the whale had a poor skin condition and seemed to be feeding on fish in the cove. Despite concerns, the center had no plans to intervene, as doing so could potentially cause stress to the already distressed whale.
Humpback whales are not typically known to linger in the area, as they usually feed on anchovies near the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz before returning to the open ocean. The whale's presence in Airport Lagoon highlights the importance of protecting and conserving these magnificent creatures, even in urban settings.
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Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal: Accessible by bus, ferry, light rail or BART
The Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal in Alameda, California, is accessible by bus, ferry, light rail, or BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit).
Bus
The nearest bus station to the Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal is W Atlantic Av & Orion St, which is about a 10-minute walk away. The bus lines that serve this route include the 96 and 663.Ferry. The 96 bus is the first and last bus that goes to the Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal, arriving at 11:01 PM and departing at 10:35 PM, respectively.
Ferry
The nearest ferry station to the Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal is the Alameda Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal, just a 2-minute walk away. The first ferry to arrive at the Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal is the South San Francisco, arriving at 6:05 AM, and the last ferry is the Alameda Seaplane, departing at 10:50 PM. Other ferry options include the Oakland & Alameda and the Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle.
Light Rail
Information regarding the light rail routes and schedules that serve the Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal can be found on the Moovit app.
BART
The closest BART stations to Alameda are Lake Merritt, 12th Street, and Fruitvale. The BLUE and GREEN BART lines serve the San Francisco Bay Ferry- Alameda Main Street Terminal, which is about a 25-minute walk from the Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal. The Moovit app can provide step-by-step directions, maps, arrival times, and schedules for the BART routes.
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NAS Alameda: Former Naval Air Station at the west end of Alameda Island
NAS Alameda, or Naval Air Station Alameda, was a United States Navy Naval Air Station located mostly in Alameda, California, with a small portion in San Francisco. The station was built on wetlands at the west end of Alameda Island, which is part of an informal archipelago in San Francisco Bay. The Ohlone tribe, a local band of the larger tribe, inhabited the region for over 3,000 years before the arrival of Spanish colonists in the late 18th century. The Spanish king granted the land to Don Luis María Peralta, and it later became known as Bolsa de Encinal or Encinal de San Antonio.
The city of Alameda was founded in 1853 after the Mexican-American War and the US acquisition of California. In 1927, the wetlands at the west end of Alameda Island were filled to form an airport with a runway, hangars, an administration building, and a yacht harbour. In 1936, the city ceded the airport to the US government, and it was renamed Benton Field by the US Army Air Corps. In 1938, Congress approved funds for the construction of naval air station facilities, and the NAS Alameda officially began operations on 1 November 1940.
The base played an important role during World War II, with the USS Hornet loading 16 B-25 aircraft at Alameda that participated in the Doolittle Raid on Japan in April 1942. Future US President Richard Nixon was also assigned to Fleet Air Wing 8 at NAS Alameda from August to December 1944. During the Vietnam War, the base served as a homeport for several aircraft carriers, including the Coral Sea, Hancock, Oriskany, and Enterprise. NAS Alameda had two runways measuring over 7,000 feet, two helicopter pads, and a control tower. The airfield was renamed Nimitz Field in 1967 after the death of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.
The base was closed in 1997, and the USS Hornet remained at the former air station as a museum ship. The site has been used for television productions, such as vehicle-based experiments for the series MythBusters. The area previously occupied by NAS Alameda is now known as "Alameda Point."
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Oakland International Airport: Abuts the eastern border of Alameda's Bay Farm Island
The Oakland International Airport is located in Oakland, California, abutting the eastern border of Alameda's Bay Farm Island. The airport caters to passenger, freight, and private aircraft flights. The airport is accessible by road from Interstate 880 (Nimitz Freeway), which is about 2 miles away via Hegenberger Road or 98th Avenue, heading west. The airport is also conveniently served by the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, with the Oakland Airport Connector providing a quick and efficient connection to the nearby Coliseum station for mainline BART trains and Amtrak services.
Alameda, California, is a city in Alameda County, situated in the East Bay region of the Bay Area. The city is characterised by its unique geography, consisting of an informal archipelago in San Francisco Bay, including Alameda Island, Bay Farm Island, and smaller islands like Coast Guard Island. Alameda has a rich history, initially inhabited by the Ohlone tribe for thousands of years before the arrival of Spanish colonists in the late 18th century. The city's name, Alameda, is derived from the Spanish word for "tree-lined path," reflecting the area's lush natural environment.
Over time, Alameda has undergone significant geographical changes, transforming from a peninsula connected to Oakland into an island through the creation of the Tidal Canal, also known as the Oakland Estuary. This transformation was driven by the need for expanded shipping facilities and the development of the shipping industry in the region. Today, Alameda is a vibrant community, known for its diverse natural landscapes, including wetlands, grasslands, and artificial bodies of water, such as the Airport Lagoon, where a humpback whale was once observed seeking shelter and feeding.
The Airport Lagoon in Alameda is an artificial body of water that plays a crucial role in the city's ecosystem. The lagoon is filled with saltwater from San Francisco Bay and supports a diverse range of wildlife, including birds such as egrets, cranes, night herons, and various species of ducks and migratory birds. The lagoon is approximately four miles in length and is subdivided into five interconnected lagoons, creating a complex and ecologically rich habitat. The waters of the lagoon are owned and maintained by the Alameda West Lagoon Home Owner's Association (AWLHOA) in collaboration with the City of Alameda's Public Works Department.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport lagoon in Alameda, CA, is located at the Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal.
You can get to the Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal by bus, ferry, light rail, or BART. The nearest bus station is W Atlantic Av & Orion St, a 10-minute walk away, and the nearest ferry station is the Alameda Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal, a 2-minute walk away.
The airport lagoon is a popular spot for wildlife watching, as it has been visited by humpback whales.
The airport lagoon was once used as a seaplane base, with the Alameda Municipal Airport opening in March 1929. The lagoon was later used by Pan American Airways to house their Martin M-130 flying boats, known as "China Clippers".
