| Carmel Bay | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Carmel Bay | |
| Location | Monterey County, California |
| Coordinates | 36°32′36″N 121°57′17″W / 36.54333°N 121.95472°W |
| River sources | Carmel River |
| Ocean/sea sources | Pacific Ocean |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 4 miles (6.4 km) |
| Max. width | 2 miles (3.2 km) |
| Settlements | Carmel-by-the-Sea, California |
Carmel Bay is a bay of the Pacific Ocean, along the central coast of California in Monterey County. The bay is 4 mi (6.4 km) long and 2 mi (3.2 km) wide with its mouth about 3 mi (4.8 km) across, between Point Carmel to the south and Point Cypress to the north; Monterey Bay is about four coastline miles north, with Point Pinos intervening.[1]
The bay's coastline includes Carmel City Beach and Carmel River State Beach, with wildlife largely protected by the 'Carmel Bay Ecological Reserve'. The City of Carmel, formally "Carmel-by-the-Sea", adjoins Carmel Bay, with the cities of Monterey, Pacific Grove, California, and Santa Cruz about 5 mi (8.0 km), 4 mi (6.4 km), and 45 mi (72 km) north, respectively.[2]