Santa Barbara Islands

Santa Barbara Islands (săn`tə bär`brə, –bərə), or Channel Islands, chain of eight rugged islands and many islets, extending c.150 mi (240 km) along the S Calif. coast from Point Conception to San Diego. The islands were visited in 1542 by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a Portuguese explorer in the service of Spain. They are located from 13 to 68 mi (21–109 km) west of the mainland. Santa Cruz (98 sq mi/254 sq km) is the largest island of the chain. Santa Catalina Island is the most economically developed of the islands and is a popular tourist center. The island fox and the Santa Cruz Island pine are native to the area; large numbers of sea mammals inhabit the waters around the islands, including sea-elephant and sea-lion herds and the California gray whale. Anacapa, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel constitute

Channel Islands National Park, est. as a national monument 1938; designated a national park 1980 (see National Parks and Monuments (table)).

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Channel Islands

 or Santa Barbara Islands

Chain of islands, southern California, U.S. Extending 150 mi (240 km) along and 12–70 mi (20–115 km) off the coast, it is divided into the Santa Barbara group (San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and Anacapa) and the Santa Catalina group (Santa Barbara, San Nicolas, Santa Catalina, and San Clemente). The islands range in size from Santa Cruz (98 sq mi [254 sq km]) to the small Anacapa islets. Rugged and mountainous, they are frequented by colonies of sea lions, seals, and birds and are noted for their distinctive plant life (several hundred varieties). The larger islands support sheep and cattle ranches, and Santa Catalina is a noted resort. Channel Islands National Park (established as a national monument in 1938) embraces Anacapa, San Miguel, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and Santa Rosa.