Redditors share their weirdest Oakland facts

"People believed there was a Merritt Monster similar to the Loch Ness Monster." - u/gianttigerrebellion Sightings of the Lake Merritt Monster, also known as the "Oakness Monster" date back to the 1940s.



"People believed there was a Merritt Monster similar to the Loch Ness Monster." - u/gianttigerrebellion Sightings of the Lake Merritt Monster, also known as the "Oakness Monster" date back to the 1940s. Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Redditors share their weirdest Oakland facts 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

Oakland is known for being one of the most ethnically diverse and progressive cities in the country. It's home to one of the busiest ports in America, has a higher proportion of female couples than anywhere in the nation, and even before its recent Hollywood renaissance, it was always the coolest city in California.

But did you know that Bruce Lee changed martial arts forever from his studio at 4157 Broadway (now a Toyota dealership)? Or that Lake Merritt has its own crustacean that hasn't been seen anywhere else on Earth AND may be possibly a Loch Ness-type monster?

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Redditors responded to the question, "What's your favorite fact about Oakland?" in droves, weighing in with an array of weird, wonderful and bizarre facts about their city.

Checkout the slideshow above to find out what was pulled out of Lake Merritt in 2018, or where the mass grave of Jim Jones and 400 of his followers is located.

Andrew Chamings is a digital editor at SFGATE. Email: Andrew.Chamings@sfgate.com | Twitter: @AndrewChamings