Jump to content

List of islands of California

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Stepheng3 (talk | contribs) at 18:24, 29 July 2009 (→‎San Francisco Bay Area: copyedit). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This is a list of islands of California. The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) lists 527 named islands in the state.[1]

Channel Islands

The Channel Islands are a group of eight main islands and several minor islands in the Pacific Ocean, several miles off the coast of Orange, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties in Southern California. The four northern islands are protected in Channel Islands National Park, while two are used by the U.S. Navy for a variety of purposes.

Island Image Coordinates Description
Anacapa Island 34°00′16″N 119°23′58″W / 34.0044486°N 119.3995603°W / 34.0044486; -119.3995603 (Anacapa Island)[2] Located 14 miles (23 km) of the coast of Ventura, California. It contains 728 acres (2.95 km2) of land spread across three mountainous islets. The island has only three permanent residents.
Prince Island Located near San Miguel Island and measures about 35 acres (0.14 km2) in size.
San Clemente Island 32°54′00″N 118°30′03″W / 32.9000357°N 118.5009115°W / 32.9000357; -118.5009115 (San Clemente Island)[3] Southernmost Channel Island, containing 56.81 square miles (147.1 km2) of land. It is 24 miles (39 km) long, and uninhabited. An active U.S. Navy base is located on the island.
San Miguel Island 34°02′23″N 120°22′32″W / 34.0397186°N 120.3754264°W / 34.0397186; -120.3754264 (San Miguel Island)[4] Westernmost Channel Island, measuring 8 miles (13 km) long, 3.7 miles (6.0 km) wide, and containing 9,325 acres (37.74 km2) of land. The island is uninhabited, and is rarely visited any given year.
San Nicolas Island 33°14′58″N 119°30′01″W / 33.2494750°N 119.5003847°W / 33.2494750; -119.5003847 (San Nicolas Island)[5] Is said to be the most remote island of the Channel Islands, and is used by the U.S. Navy as a weapons testing and training facility. It has no civilian inhabitants, but is inhabited by military personnel. It covers 14,562 acres (58.93 km2).
Santa Barbara Island 33°28′32″N 119°02′10″W / 33.4755796°N 119.0362111°W / 33.4755796; -119.0362111 (Santa Barbara Island)[6] Smallest Channel Island at 640 acres (2.6 km2) in area; it is located roughly between San Nicolas and Santa Catalina Islands.
Santa Catalina Island 33°23′00″N 118°25′03″W / 33.3833613°N 118.4175764°W / 33.3833613; -118.4175764 (Santa Catalina Island)[7] The most inhabited of the Channel Islands, with a population of 3,696 as of 2000. It is about 22 miles (35 km) long with a maximum width of 8 miles (13 km). It covers 74.98 square miles (194.2 km2) of land.
Santa Cruz Island 34°02′25″N 119°50′37″W / 34.0402815°N 119.8437411°W / 34.0402815; -119.8437411 (Santa Cruz Island)[8] Santa Cruz Island measures 22 miles (35 km) long with an average width of 4 miles (6.4 km), covering 96.5 square miles (250 km2). It is the largest Channel Island. The island is now on public land, but was previously the largest privately owned island of the continental United States.
Santa Rosa Island 33°57′00″N 120°06′03″W / 33.9500030°N 120.1009639°W / 33.9500030; -120.1009639 (Santa Rosa Island)[9] Santa Rosa Island occupies 83.1 square miles (215 km2), and is the second largest Channel Island. The island has a permanent population of 2 persons, and is about 26 miles (42 km) off the coast of Santa Barbara, California.
Shag Rock 33°29′13″N 119°02′10″W / 33.4869680°N 119.0362112°W / 33.4869680; -119.0362112 (Shag Rock)[10] Small islet located off the north shore of Santa Barbara Island, and is only about 1-acre (0.0040 km2) in size.
Sutil Island 33°27′50″N 119°02′53″W / 33.4639132°N 119.0481557°W / 33.4639132; -119.0481557 (Sutil Island)[11] Located off the southwest shore of Santa Barbara Island, and is about 12 acres (0.049 km2) in size. It is named for a Spanish ship exploring the West Coast in an expedition led by Sebastian Vizcaino.

Farallon Islands

The Farallon Islands are a group of rugged small islands over 20 miles (32 km) offshore from the city of San Francisco. They consist of over twenty small islets divided into north, south and middle sections, as well as a major bank, Fanny Shoal. The islands were once used as a disposal site for radioactive waste.[12]

Island Image Coordinates Description
Southeast Farallon Island 37°44′00″N 123°02′04″W / 37.7332634°N 123.0344446°W / 37.7332634; -123.0344446 (Southeast Farallon Island)[13] Is the largest of the Farallons, covering 0.19 square miles (0.49 km2). It is the only inhabited Farallon Island, and is also the site of Farallon Island Light.
Seal Rock Small islet south of Southeast Farallon Island, with a maximum height of 82 feet (25 m).
Maintop Island West of Southeast Farallon Island, and has a maximum height of 223 feet (68 m).
Drunk Uncle Islets Group of small islets north of Maintop Island.
Aulone Island and Great Arch Rock North of Southeast Farallon Island, measuring 200 feet (61 m) wide and 400 feet (120 m) long.
Sugarloaf Island Directly to the northeast of Aulone and Great Arch Rock, about 80 feet (24 m) high.
Sea Lion Rock Small islet northwest of Aulon Island, about 130 feet (40 m) long.
Middle Farallon Island Medium-sized islet 1.8 miles (2.9 km) northwest of Southeast Farallon Island. It is 210 feet (64 m) long and has an area of 0.8 acres (3,200 m2).
North Farallon Island Medium-sized islet 500 feet (150 m) long and 100 feet (30 m) high, covering 2 acres (8,100 m2).
Island of St. James Medium-sized islet 3 acres (12,000 m2) in size, measuring 410 feet (120 m) long and 154 feet (47 m) high.
Piedra Guadalupe
Peñasco Quebrado
Farallón Viscaíno

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is a large snowmelt lake on the California - Nevada state border, located on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. The lake contains only one named island.

Island Image Coordinates Description
Fannette Island 38°57′15″N 120°06′02″W / 38.9540745°N 120.1004631°W / 38.9540745; -120.1004631 (Fannette Island)[14] The only major island in Lake Tahoe, located within Emerald Bay.

Mono Lake

Mono Lake is a saline endorheic lake in eastern California. Due to water taken from its tributary streams in order to supply the City of Los Angeles, the lake level has experienced notable drops and revealed more of its volcanic tufa islands. The two largest islands are listed below.

Island Image Coordinates Description
Negit Island 38°01′22″N 119°02′59″W / 38.0227016°N 119.0495910°W / 38.0227016; -119.0495910 (Negit Island)[15] A young volcanic cone, connected to the mainland during low water. It is an important stop for nesting birds, and as a result is closed to visitation during April.
Paoha Island 38°00′02″N 229°01′57″W / 38.0004801°N 229.0323683°W / 38.0004801; -229.0323683 (Paoha Island){{#coordinates:}}: invalid longitude[16] 2.5 miles (4.0 km) long and 2 miles (3.2 km) wide, and is the largest Mono Lake island.

San Francisco Bay Area

Islands near, but not in San Francisco Bay:

Island Image Coordinates Description
Año Nuevo Island 37°06′31″N 122°20′16″W / 37.1085588°N 122.3377509°W / 37.1085588; -122.3377509 (Año Nuevo Island)[17] Small Pacific island, about 0.2 miles (0.32 km) long, near Año Nuevo (New Year's) Point, south of the Golden Gate. It is protected by the Año Nuevo State Reserve as it is an important habitat for seabirds and other coastal wildlife.
Bird Island 37°49′27″N 122°32′12″W / 37.8240950°N 122.5366415°W / 37.8240950; -122.5366415 (Bird Island)[18] Small Pacific island between Point Bonita and Rodeo Cove.
Bird Rock 38°13′48″N 122°59′40″W / 38.2299191°N 122.9944445°W / 38.2299191; -122.9944445[19] Small Pacific island west of Tomales Point, primarily a seabird colony. It covers 2 acres (0.0081 km2).
Browns Island 37°57′37″N 121°21′21″W / 37.9602015°N 121.3557810°W / 37.9602015; -121.3557810 (Browns Island)[20] A partial wetland in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, covering 595 acres (2.41 km2).
Gull Rock 37°52′34″N 122°36′59″W / 37.8760378°N 122.6163689°W / 37.8760378; -122.6163689 (Gull Rock) A Pacific island near Mount Tamalpais, about 200 feet (61 m) long.
Hog Island (Petaluma River) 38°09′33″N 122°32′18″W / 38.1590851°N 122.5383142°W / 38.1590851; -122.5383142 (Hog Island) Island in the Petaluma River wetlands.
Hog Island (Tomales Bay) 38°11′50″N 122°56′09″W / 38.1971423°N 122.9358306°W / 38.1971423; -122.9358306 (Hog Island) A 2-acre (0.0081 km2) island in Tomales Bay.
Kent Island (California) 37°54′44″N 122°40′43″W / 37.912148°N 122.6785951°W / 37.912148; -122.6785951 (Kent Island) An island in Bolinas Lagoon, near the town of Bolinas. About 0.5 miles (0.80 km) long.
Mussel Rock 37°40′01″N 122°29′50″W / 37.6668787°N 122.4971961°W / 37.6668787; -122.4971961 (Mussel Rock) A stack in the Pacific Ocean near Daly City. About 200 feet (61 m) long.
Roe Island 38°04′21″N 122°02′05″W / 38.0724192°N 122.0346857°W / 38.0724192; -122.0346857 (Roe Island) In Suisun Bay.
Ryer Island 38°04′58″N 122°00′52″W / 38.0826966°N 122.0144075°W / 38.0826966; -122.0144075 (Ryer Island) Between Suisun Bay and the Suisun Cutoff.[21]. About 2 miles (3.2 km) long.
Ryer Island 38°14′26″N 121°38′03″W / 38.24047°N 121.6341217°W / 38.24047; -121.6341217 (Ryer Island) In the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, north of Rio Vista. About 6 miles (9.7 km) long.
San Pedro Rock 37°35′43″N 122°31′27″W / 37.5952150°N 122.5241438°W / 37.5952150; -122.5241438 (San Pedro Rock) A Pacific island near the city of Pacifica. About 800 feet (240 m) long.
Seal Islands 38°03′20″N 122°02′50″W / 38.0554754°N 122.0471858°W / 38.0554754; -122.0471858 (Seal Islands) In Suisun Bay.
Seal Rock (San Francisco County, California) File:6193010163 small.jpg 37°46′43″N 122°30′58″W / 37.77861°N 122.51611°W / 37.77861; -122.51611 (Seal Rock) A series of large rocks in the Pacific Ocean that host a sea lion colony.
Seal Rock (San Mateo County, California) 37°23′30″N 122°25′29″W / 37.3916088°N 122.4246974°W / 37.3916088; -122.4246974 (Seal Rock) A Pacific island south of Half Moon Bay, about 500 feet (150 m) long.
Sears Rock 37°49′43″N 122°32′57″W / 37.8285393°N 122.5491423°W / 37.8285393; -122.5491423 (Sears Rock) A rock in the Centissima Reef.
The Sisters Islands, California 37°59′18″N 122°26′28″W / 37.9882561°N 122.4410844°W / 37.9882561; -122.4410844 (The Sisters) A pair of small islands in San Pablo Bay, 2,000 feet (610 m) south of Point Saint Pedro.

San Francisco Bay

Main article: List of islands of San Francisco Bay

See also

References

  1. ^ "GNIS Feature Search". Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  2. ^ "Anacapa Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  3. ^ "San Clemente Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  4. ^ "San Miguel Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  5. ^ "San Nicolas Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  6. ^ "Santa Barbara Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  7. ^ "Santa Catalina Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  8. ^ "Santa Cruz Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  9. ^ "Santa Rosa Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  10. ^ "Shag Rock". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  11. ^ "Sutil Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  12. ^ "Atlas of Gulf of the Farallones Region, Central California". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  13. ^ "Farallon Islands". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  14. ^ "Fannette Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  15. ^ "Negit Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  16. ^ "Paoha Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  17. ^ "Año Nuevo Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  18. ^ "Bird Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  19. ^ "Bird Rock". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  20. ^ "Browns Island". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
  21. ^ David L. Durham, "California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of This State," p. 693 (Quill Driver Books 1998) ISBN 1884995144.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_islands_of_California&oldid=304924802"