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Lake Merritt (Oakland, California)

USA / California / Piedmont / Oakland, California
 lake, wildlife sanctuary, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places

The Jewel of Oakland. Not actually a lake, but an estuary, as it is connected to the bay, has tides, and its water is brackish. The lake is the site of the first wild life preserve in the continent. The lake is circumscribed with its signature "Necklace of Lights," incandescent lightbulb strings hung between cast iron lampposts. Originally dating back to before the 1920s, they were taken down during WWII for the blackouts. The Necklace was re-created in the 1990's, and circles almost all of the lake.

Other treasures of the lake are Children's Fairyland, first amusement park for young
children in the country, the Sailboat House, Rotary Science Center, and Lake Merritt Garden Center and it's gardens. The Bonsai garden contains the first bonsai tre ever brought to the U.S. during the Lincoln presidency.

Another major fixture is a huge and ever growing flock of Canada geese that seem to inhabit the area year round, covering almost every square foot of ground around the lake in bird droppings and broken mussel shells.

National Register of Historic Places # 66000205
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   37°48'16"N   122°15'22"W
This article was last modified 1 year ago