The Red Triangle: the History of Great White Sharks in Marin

The Red Triangle is an ominous name and for good reason: about 11% of all great white shark attacks worldwide occur there.

Imagine a line stretching from just north of Sonoma County (Point Arena) down to Big Sur. And out to the Farallon Islands.

Marin makes up about a third of the coastline of the Red Triangle. And while shark attacks are rare, it is a good idea to be careful in the fall. Every fall, elephant seals and sea lions return to this area to breed, which brings sharks to feed on them.

The vast majority of shark attacks on humans are not fatal (95+%). It is believed a shark might confuse a human for a seal, take a bite, and realize it was a simple case of mistaken identity. Oops, sorry! That is what is believed to have happened at the only recorded shark attack at Stinson Beach in 1998*.

The last continental US fatal shark attack? Right here in Marin on October 1, 2023. It is also Marin’s only fatal shark attack.

Have you done the famous Alamere Falls waterfall hike at the Point Reyes National Seashore? Just 1-2 miles north is the remote Wildcat Beach and campground. Three friends went for a swim and were 100 feet offshore when Felix Louis N’jai was attacked. He was pulled under and disappeared without a trace.

This was a gruesome chapter of Marin History, but I thought you might be interested in yet another way Marin is unique. Before you get worried, keep in mind just how rare shark attacks are here: In the last 75 years, there have been only 20 shark attacks in Marin.

*: the boy made a full recovery and is now an attorney. He volunteers on the community oversight committee for the Measure A’s quarter-cent sales tax that goes to protect parks, open spaces, and agricultural lands. Very cool!

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The walk score may be a 1 out of 100, but what about the kayak score?

A short 1 mile paddle from your private beach down to Nick’s Cove for some oysters. Or if you prefer, 3.5 miles down to Tony’s.

This property looks move-in ready, not a massive project like some of these unique older places. And at 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, and 1800 square feet, there is plenty of space.

Check it out:

Zillow link

Thanks for reading. We will be back with the regular events and activities email Wednesday morning!

— Allison + Brian