San Elijo Lagoon, Cardiff

San Elijo Lagoon is 915 acres (370 ha) of tidal wetlands formed by Escondido Creek that drains a watershed of 54,000 acres (22,000 ha) and flows generally southwest for 26 miles (42 km) to the Pacific Ocean at Cardiff, or Cardiff-by-the-Sea, a beach community in Encinitas, about 89 miles (144 km) southeast of Los Angeles and 21 miles (34 km) north-northwest of San Diego, California.