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San Francisco. Pop. 739,426. State – California CA. Currency – US Dollar, Language – English. Time Zone – GMT minus 8 hours. Main Airport – San Francisco International Airport SFO. Average Temperatures 10°C (Jan), 15°C (Jul). Best time to go – all year round destination. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city in California and the fourteenth-most populous in the United States. The city is located on the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula beside the Pacific Ocean and includes the San Francisco Bay, and the islands of Alcatraz, Treasure Island, and the nearby Yerba Buena Island. The city is famous for its hills and several neighbourhoods are named after a hill including - Nob Hill, Pacific Heights, Russian Hill, Potrero Hill, and Telegraph Hill. Historically, the city can trace its roots back to a Spanish Expedition who were the first recorded European visitors to San Francisco Bay in 1769. The Spanish then established a fort, followed by a mission, Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores). Following its indpendence from Spain in 1851 the San Francisco area came under the jurisdiction of Mexico. San Francisco became part of the USA in 1846 during the Mexican-American War. The city boomed during the California Gold Rush and further expansion developed on the arrival of the railroad which linked up with the natural port of San Francisco Bay. In 1906, a major earthquake struck San Francisco and northern California, which effectively destroyed three quarters of the city. The rebuilding process was rapid and the city quickly regained its business and financial capability. The redevelopment was topped with the construction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge by 1937. In recent years the city has developed a high technology and entrepreneurship culture along with the development of the Internet as a communications tool. Visitors will be intrigued with the San Francisco fog which rolls in from the seas but the liberal culture, famous landmarks, and multicultural feel makes this city a genuine all year round attraction.