Anacapa Island

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NASA satellite image of Anacapa Island

Arch Rock and lighthouse, 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: East Island, Middle Island and West Island. Together, the islands are defined by the United States Census Bureau as Block Group 8, Census Tract 36.04 of Ventura County, California. The official 2000 census population was 3 permanent residents, and the total land area was 2.947 km² (1.138 sq mi or 728.2 acres). [Block Group 8, Census Tract 36.04, Ventura County] United States Census Bureau

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.

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

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. All of the passengers survived and were rescued after a week.

Invasive ship rats (Rattus rattus) are thought to have been introduced to the island from the wrecked ship. They had devastating consequences for the island's seabirds and other native species, but were successfully eradicated in 2001-2002. With the rats gone, the number of rare Xantus' Murrelets has increased more than 80 percent 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. It was the last lighthouse built by the United States Lighthouse Service. The lighthouse is located on the eastern part of the island, at the entrance to the Santa Barbara Channel.

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