Anacapa

NASA satellite image of Anacapa Island

Anacapa Island is a small volcanic island located about 14 miles (23 km) off the coast of Ventura, California, in Ventura County.

Anacapa is part of the Channel Islands archipelago (island chain), and is part of the Channel Islands National Park. It is the smallest of the northern islands. The island is actually composed of three islets; the island's size, perhaps unclear because of the geographic issue of the islets, is measured as either 699 or 717 acres (2.8 or 2.9 km²).

Anacapa has only one resident—a National Park Ranger who lives in government housing on the island.

Anacapa is the only one of the Channel Islands to have a non-Spanish-derived name. Anacapa comes from the Chumash word eneepah, meaning mirage island.

History

On the night of December 2, 1853, the sidewheel steamer Winfield Scott running at full speed crashed into the rocks off Middle Anacapa and sank. Invasive ship rats (Rattus rattus) are thought to have been introduced to the island from the wrecked ship. They had devestating consequences for the islands seabirds and other native species, but were successfully eradicated in 2001/2002. With the rats gone, the number of rare Xantus's Murrelets has increased more than 80% in the last three years. This is one of many recoveries following invasive species eradications from the Channel Islands.

The United States Coast Guard built a light beacon in 1912 and a light station in 1932.

Channel Islands of California: Anacapa Island - San Clemente Island - San Miguel Island San Nicolas Island - Santa Barbara Island     Santa Catalina Island - Santa Cruz Island - Santa Rosa Island