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A Visit to the Channel Islands

Perhaps, the most interesting critter on Santa Cruz is the Island Fox. They are pretty-much domesticated. They come right up to people, and when you're not looking, make off with your lunch.
 
Anacapa's most notable natural feature is Arch Rock, a 40-foot high natural bridge.
 
Dolphins swim in the crossing to the Channel Islands

Before a couple of weeks ago, I wasn't sure if I ever heard of the Channel Islands. Then again, although parts of the Channel Islands are a National Park, they are just about the least visited of all the National Parks in the United States.

Partially, this is because they are off the coast of southern California and are only accessible by boat. And partially, although they are a unique ecological destination, there are few amenities, so, great if you like nature, not so much if you are into creature comforts.

The Channel Islands consist of eight islands off the coast of Santa Barbara (four), Ventura (two) and Los Angelas (two) Counties. Five of the islands (San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara) were made into the Channel Islands National Park in 1980.

Adele and I and maybe 26 other people made this trip with Road Scholar. We visited Anacapa (the closest to our base in Ventura) and Santa Cruz (the next closest). The islands are surrounded by the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary encompassing waters six nautical miles 6.9 miles off these islands.

Anacapa is tiny — only a little over a square mile, and has no potable water so it is basically primitive. But it is the closest of the islands, nine miles from the mainland. It was formed millions of years ago from volcanic eruptions, and its surface is composed of volcanic rock.

Anacapa's most notable natural feature is Arch Rock, a 40-foot high natural bridge.

Santa Cruz is a bit more inviting. There's even a beach for kayaking, and maybe swimming for the daring.

Santa Cruz has an area of nearly 100 square miles and has been occupied by the Native American Chumash tribe for centuries. But this started falling apart when the Spanish visited and visited these people with measles and missionaries, and by 1822, there were no more Chumash remaining on Santa Cruz.

 

Santa Cruz served as a base for otter hunters, fishermen, and smugglers. Some oil exploration took place but oil was not found. During WWII, the island was used as an early warning outpost for observing enemy planes and ships. During the Cold War, a communications station was installed as a part of the Pacific Missile Range Facility.

With the Chumash gone, the Spanish and later, California granted the lands for ranching of cattle, horses, and sheep, which continued until 1984.

During these changes, some endemic wildlife and plants were destroyed and invasive species introduced.

DDT destroyed the native Bald Eagle population, which was later replaced by the Golden Eagle. As the Bald Eagle's principal diet relies on fish and the Golden Eagle's diet leans towards ground critters, the natural balance was affected.

In particular, the endemic Island Fox, a pigmy version of the Red Fox, was nearly decimated. After becoming a National Park, the Golden Eagles were expunged, and the Bald Eagles reintroduced, and the Island Fox protected and bred.

Perhaps, the most interesting critter on Santa Cruz is the Island Fox. They are pretty-much domesticated. They come right up to people, and when you're not looking, make off with your lunch.

Also, the boat trip to the Channel Island often passes schools of dolphins and pods of whales.

So, if you are looking for something completely different, consider the Channel Islands, and going with Road Scholar makes the trip a lot easier.

~ Al Zagofsky

 

 

 

 

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