Morro Rock
Morro Rock, the ‘Gibraltar of the Pacific,’ is undeniably the most distinctive and recognizable natural landmark of Morro Bay. The 576 foot tall rock at the mouth of the harbor is a volcanic plug that formed about 23 million years ago. It is part of a chain of nine volcanic peaks, the Nine Sisters, that extend from San Luis Obispo to Morro Bay. Spanish explorer Juan Cabrillo, sailing up the California coast in search of the Northwest Passage, is credited with naming the rock “El Morro.” Miguel Costanso and Father Crespi of the Portolá expedition are said to be the first Europeans to set foot on it in 1769. It is protected as the Morro Rock State Preserve and a California Historical Landmark.
Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo County
Photographer: Andrew Schmidt
Photographer: Jim Albert