Carquinez Strait
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The Carquinez Strait is a narrow tidal strait in northern California. It is part of the tidal estuary of the Sacramento and the San Joaquin rivers as they drain into the San Francisco Bay. The strait connects Suisun Bay, which receives the waters of the combined rivers, with San Pablo Bay, a northern extension of the San Francisco Bay. It forms part of the border between Solano (to the north) and Contra Costa (to the south) counties, and is approximately 15 mi (25 km) north of Oakland. The cities of Benicia and Vallejo lie on the north side of the strait, while Martinez, Port Costa and Crockett sit on the southern coast. The strait is crossed by two bridges, Carquinez Bridge and Benicia-Martinez Bridge. In addition, some tall pylons carrying power lines cross the Strait as well.
The channel is navigable and is used for commercial and military shipping. The Napa River joins the strait, via the short Mare Island Strait, near its entrance into San Pablo Bay.
Trivia
In 1985, an errant humback whale swam up the Carquinez Strait as far as Rio Vista. Named Humphrey the whale by the media, he was successfully turned around and rescued by The Marine Mammal Center and other volunteers.
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