Images of people and places from across the United States of America: Santa Cruz Island, California Channel Islands
Santa Cruz Island is the largest of the eight islands in the Channel Islands of California, located off the coast of California. The island, in the northern group of the Channel Islands, is 22 miles (35 km) long and from 2 to 6 miles (3.2 to 9.7 km) wide with an area of 61,764.6 acres (249.952 km). Santa Cruz Island is located within Santa Barbara County, California. The coastline has steep cliffs, gigantic sea caves, coves, and sandy beaches. The 2000 census showed an official population of two persons. The highest peak is Diablo (Devils) Peak, at 2450+ feet (747+ m). It was the largest privately owned island off the continental United States but is currently part-owned by the National Park Service (NPS owns 24%, and the Nature Conservancy owns 76%). Santa Cruz has many species found nowhere else on earth, including for instance the Island Scrub Jay and the Island Fox.