Moss Landing Marine Laboratories is situated in a beautiful, state-of-the-art teaching and research facility overlooking the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Convenient access to Moss Landing harbor and the MLML fleet of research vessels provides rapid access to the bay (including the famous Monterey Submarine Canyon, which is over 4,000 meters deep) and the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserve, one of the largest estuarine wetlands on the West Coast. Mud flats, sand dunes, sandy beaches, and extensive kelp forest habitats are located within easy access to MLML students and faculty, and fieldwork is heavily emphasized. MLML is located between two large upwelling centers, which provide nutrients that stimulate productivity and provide a wealth of opportunities to study coastal and oceanic processes.