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