| San Francisco is the American city and district and | | | | rock musicians and hippies. Since then, San Francisco |
| the fourth among the most populated California cities. | | | | became the centre for gays' independence |
| Located in the northern extremity of the | | | | movement and nowadays, the per cent of gays and |
| San-Francisco peninsula, it is also the central part of | | | | lesbians living here is a larger than that in any other |
| the so-called San Franscisco Bay Area, with a | | | | American city. |
| population of about 7 million people. | | | | Unfortunately, in 1989 another huge earthquake |
| The first Europeans to settle in San Francisco were | | | | caused lots of destructions and victims in the city. |
| Spaniards that came here in 1776 and named the city | | | | In 80-s there were lots of skyscrapers and high |
| in honour of Francis of Assisi. Then, during the times | | | | blocks of flats built in San Francisco. During the times |
| of the Gold Rush, the city started to grow rapidly. | | | | of the internet revolution lots of |
| But unfortunately, a violent earthquake ruined San | | | | internet-businessmen and highly educated workers as |
| Francisco in 1906 and subsequently the city had to be | | | | well as programmers and other people connected |
| rebuilt. Nowadays, San Francisco is one of the most | | | | with this branch came to San Francisco, which caused |
| wonderful American cities. It is located on the hills and | | | | a great increase in prices for lodging. |
| is famous all around the world for its inexpressible | | | | At the same time, the high amount of homeless |
| mixture of historical and modern culture. Among the | | | | people has been one of the city's major problems |
| main city's attractions there are Alcatraz Island, the | | | | during the last years. This amount in San Francisco is |
| cable cars, the Transamerica Pyramid, Coit Tower, | | | | higher than that in other USA cities. |
| and Chinatown. | | | | But what San Francisco is famous for is its unique |
| In 1936 there was a bridge opened between San | | | | nature peculiarities, which add to its unforgettable |
| Francisco and Oakland, and in 1937 the Golden Bridge | | | | colour. The city is located between the San Francisco |
| spanned the San Francisco-Oakland Bay. As there | | | | bay and the Pacific ocean and the fog that is brought |
| two new means of communication appeared in the | | | | here by the ocean is San Francisco's frequent visitor |
| region, people could get here from the north and | | | | and a special feature. Fog usually appears here in |
| from the east and local population became even | | | | summer, sometimes late in spring and in the beginning |
| greater, especially during the times of the Second | | | | of autumn, which makes these seasons similar to |
| World War when thanks to its unique location the | | | | summer. |
| city became an important naval base. | | | | Lots of discussions and works are dedicated to the |
| In the second half of the 20th century | | | | climate of San Francisco. One call it "an ideal climate", |
| representatives of the new American culture moved | | | | others say it's the worst in the world. |
| here one after another: those were artists, writers, | | | | |