page_title: Big Sur
section_title: Marine protected areas
hierarchical_section_title: Big Sur / Flora and fauna / Marine protected areas
caption_attribution_description: English: Big Sur and the Pacific coast from Pacific Coast Highway—California State Route 1 (Hwy 1). Monterey County, California.
context_page_description: Big Sur is a rugged and mountainous section of the Central Coast of California between Carmel Highlands and San Simeon, where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. It is frequently praised for its dramatic scenery. Big Sur has been called the "longest and most scenic stretch of undeveloped coastline in the contiguous United States," a "national treasure that demands extraordinary procedures to protect it from development" and "one of the most beautiful coastlines anywhere in the world, an isolated stretch of road, mythic in reputation." The stunning views, redwood forests, hiking, beaches, and other recreational opportunities have made Big Sur a popular destination for about 7 million people who live within a day's drive and visitors from across the world. It is among the top 35 tourist destinations world-wide. The region receives about the same number of visitors as Yosemite National Park, but offers extremely limited bus service, few restrooms, and a narrow two-lane highway with few places to park alongside the road.
context_section_description: The off-shore region of the Big Sur Coast is protected by the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Within that sanctuary are other conservation areas and parks. The onshore topography that drops abruptly into the Pacific continues offshore where a narrow continental shelf drops to the continental slope in only a few miles. The ocean reaches a depth of more than 12,000 feet (3,700 m) just 50 mi (80 km) offshore. Two deep submarine canyons cut into the shelf near the Big Sur coast: the Sur Submarine Canyon, reaching a depth of 3,000 ft (910 m) just 8 mi (13 km) south of Point Sur, and Partington Submarine Canyon, which reaches a similar depth of 6.8 mi (10.9 km) offshore of Grimes Canyon.
  Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.
  Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
  Point Lobos State Marine Reserve
  Point Sur State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area
  Big Creek State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area
  Salmon Creek State Area of Special Biological Significance
  California Sea Otter Game Refuge
  Julia Pfeiffer Burns Underwater Park
caption: Coast view of the Big Creek State Marine Reserve
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