Pier 39 sea lions, Sea lion colony on floating docks in San Francisco, United States
Pier 39 Sea Lions refers to the colony of sea lions living on floating platforms at the western edge of the pier. The wooden pontoons sit directly beside the shopping and restaurant buildings and offer the animals a sheltered resting place in the harbor basin.
California sea lions began hauling out on Pier 39's docks in September 1989, during refurbishment work that left the berths empty. The first arrivals came before the Loma Prieta earthquake of October 17, 1989, so the quake did not cause the move. In March 1990 Dock K was closed to boats and left to the animals.
The name points to the California sea lions that settled spontaneously at the docks after the 1989 earthquake and have stayed ever since. Visitors gather daily along the wooden docks to watch the animals sunbathing and playing, while their calls echo across the water.
The viewing platforms around the docks are freely accessible and allow close views of the animals from just a few meters away. Early mornings and late afternoons often provide the best opportunities to see the sea lions active, before crowds arrive or after they disperse.
The colony began in September 1989, before the Loma Prieta earthquake, when dock refurbishment left open berths. By Thanksgiving week 2009, 1,700 sea lions were counted; in late November 2009 nearly all left, and some were later seen at Oregon's Sea Lion Caves.
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