they were in search of an elusive port called monte rey. but wandered instead into an idealic world, a world inhabited were deers the size of horses and trees they simply called redwood. but where were they? the sea stretched far climbing the hike of a peak to investigate, they were astonished by what lay before their eyes, a marvel of nature wrote one early visitor. a harbor of harbors. large enough to hold all the navies of the earth. >> san francisco bay is obviously the most beautiful natural bay in north america. there's nothing that has its scope, its beauty and its setting. >> a wonder expanse of blue peace in the midst of a tremendously developed urban areas where factories and houses and high-rises. but the bay remains. >> the san francisco bay is absolutely magic. its grace value is almost its spiritual value. that's what makes the bay area so profoundly different. we are right at the edge of wilderness all the time. >> it truly is a place that has unique features, protecting and restoring back to something closer to what it was.