Año Nuevo Island facts for kids
Aerial view of Año Nuevo Island, 2009
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 Año Nuevo Island
Location in California
Año Nuevo Island
Location in the United States
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| Geography | |
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| Coordinates | 37°06′30″N 122°20′16″W / 37.1083°N 122.3378°W |
| Total islands | 1 |
| Area | 0.0364217 km2 (0.0140625 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| State | California |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Año Nuevo Island is a small island off the coast of Northern California. Its name, Año Nuevo, means 'New Year' in Spanish. The island is located between the cities of San Francisco and Santa Cruz.
This island is about 9 acres (3.6 ha) in size. It is a very important place for many animals. It is a breeding spot for northern elephant seals. It is also home to the endangered Steller's sea lion. Many types of seabirds live here too. These include rhinoceros auklets, Brandt's cormorants, and western gulls.
Because so many seals and sea lions live here, great white sharks are often seen in the waters around the island. Año Nuevo Island is a protected area. It is part of the Año Nuevo State Reserve.
The waters around Año Nuevo Island are also protected. They are part of the Año Nuevo State Marine Conservation Area. This area connects to the Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area. These underwater parks help protect ocean wildlife and their homes.
Contents
How Año Nuevo Island Formed
What is now Año Nuevo Island was once connected to the mainland. This was as recently as the 1700s. Over time, a channel formed, separating it from the coast. This channel continues to get wider.
The island is mostly made of old shale rock. It also has sand from ancient dunes. There is a wide, flat area of rocks and small islets around the island. This area is called an intertidal shelf. Waves constantly hit these areas. This causes erosion, especially during winter storms.
Who Manages Año Nuevo Island?
Año Nuevo Island is managed by the University of California Natural Reserve System. They work with the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The Año Nuevo Island Reserve includes the island and its surrounding waters. It covers 25 acres of the larger Año Nuevo State Reserve. The rest of the reserve, about 4,000 acres (1,600 ha), is on the mainland.
Visiting Año Nuevo Island
Most people cannot visit Año Nuevo Island. Only approved research teams are allowed on the island. This helps protect the wildlife.
There are a few old buildings on the island. They were built in the late 1800s. These include an old house and a foghorn station. The original light tower was taken down in the early 2000s. It was getting old and could have harmed the animals. Some of the remaining buildings are now used by scientists for their research.
Helping Wildlife on the Island
Thousands of California sea lions use Año Nuevo Island as a resting spot. Over many years, their presence has damaged native plants. They have also harmed the burrows where auklets live.
In 2010, a group called Oikonos started a project to help. They are working to reduce the damage caused by sea lions. Their goal is to help native plants grow back. They also want to help the auklet populations recover.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Año Nuevo para niños
