Anacapa Island

Anacapa Island
Native name:
Ennepah, 'Anyapakh
Satellite view of Anacapa Island
Anacapa Island is located in USA California Channel Islands
Anacapa Island
Anacapa Island
Anacapa Island
Anacapa Island is located in southern California
Anacapa Island
Anacapa Island
Anacapa Island (southern California)
Etymologymirage island
Geography
LocationPacific Ocean
ArchipelagoNorthern Channel Islands
Adjacent toPacific Ocean
Major islandsWest, Middle, East
Area699 acres (283 ha)
Length5 mi (8 km)[1]
Width0.5 mi (0.8 km)[1]
Highest elevation930 ft (283 m)
Highest pointVela Peak/Summit Peak 2
Administration
United States
StateCalifornia
CountyVentura
Demographics
Population3 (2000)
Additional information
Official websitehttp://www.nps.gov/chis/planyourvisit/anacapa.htm
Map of Channel Islands
Middle and West Islets of Anacapa Island.
A natural bridge on the east end of the island. See below for an aerial view.
Anacapa's lighthouse is situated on the east end of the island. Sea arch (seen above) is at center right.
An aerial view of the island.

Anacapa Island (Chumash: Anyapax, meaning "mirage, illusion")[2][3][4] is a small volcanic island located about 11 miles (9.6 nmi; 18 km) off Port Hueneme in Ventura County, California. The island is composed of a series of narrow islets 6 mi (10 km) long, oriented generally east–west and 5 mi (8 km) east of Santa Cruz Island. The three main islets, East, Middle and West Anacapa, have precipitous cliffs, dropping off steeply into the sea.

Anacapa is the smallest of the northern islands of the Channel Islands archipelago, and is within the Channel Islands National Park. It is 9 miles (7.8 nmi; 14 km) across the Santa Barbara Channel from the nearest point on the mainland. It lies southwest of the city of Ventura, California.[5] The northern waters of Anacapa Island are protected by the Anacapa State Marine Reserve, which is one of the MPAs existing in the Channel Island National Park.[6][7]

Public passenger access to Anacapa Island is provided by Island Packers ferry service out of either the Ventura Harbor or Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard, California.

  1. ^ a b Palmer 2004, p. 763.
  2. ^ Bright, William (1998). 1500 California Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
  3. ^ Harrington, John P. John P. Harrington's Notes, Reel 68.
  4. ^ "Chumash Place Names". Archived from the original on 2015-04-01. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  5. ^ Anacapa Island Restoration Project. Channel Islands National Park. Final Environmental Impact Statement. Date not stated. Accessed July 21, 2018
  6. ^ "Anacapa Island State Marine Reserve". California Department of Fish and Wildlife. State of California. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Anacapa island SMR". California Marine Protected Areas. California Marine Protected Areas. Retrieved 11 December 2023.