Channel Islands (California)

Channel Islands
Spanish: Archipiélago del Norte

Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Total islands	8
Area	350.89 sq mi (908.8 km2)
Highest elevation	2,429 ft (740.4 m)
Highest point	Devils Peak, Santa Cruz Island
Administration
United States
State	California
Counties	Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles
Largest settlement	Avalon (pop. 3,728)
Demographics
Population	4,603 (2010)

The Channel Islands (Spanish: islas del Canal, Archipiélago del Norte) are an eight-island archipelago located within the Southern California Bight in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California. They define the Santa Barbara Channel between the islands and the California mainland. The four Northern Channel Islands are part of the Transverse Ranges geologic province, and the four Southern Channel Islands are part of the Peninsular Ranges province.^[1] Five of the islands are within the Channel Islands National Park. The waters surrounding these islands make up Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The Nature Conservancy was instrumental in establishing the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

The Chumash Native Americans, and later the Tongva, lived on the islands from around 13,000 to 7000 years ago until they were displaced by the Spaniards in the 1800s, who used the islands for fishing and agriculture.^[2] The Channel Islands and the surrounding waters house a diverse ecosystem with many endemic species and subspecies. The islands harbor 150 unique species of plants.^[3]

Two of the islands, San Clemente Island and San Nicolas Island, are used by the US Navy as training grounds, weapons test sites, and strategic defensive locations.^[4]