Farallon Islands San Francisco, As Seen From Twin Peaks. Stock Image

The Farallon Islands is all of 211 acres spread over four islands, just 28 miles off the Pacific Coast of San Francisco, and, now, considered part of the city and county of San Francisco.nThe Native Americans knew of the islands, but there are no records of them ever visiting them. The earliest known records them, are from Francis Drakes 1579 expedition. He landed in order to gather meat and eggs, and named the islands St. James, in honor of one of his saints, a name that is now applied to only one specific of the islands. nThe name `Farallones` is from the Spanish, meaning cliff, from a 1603 expedition.nThe whole area around the islands were considered so dangerous, that none of it was explored, by the Europeans, until 1769. Today, the islands are a marine bird and mammal sanctuary, totally off limits to all, except specific researchers and scientists.