Gulf of Santa Catalina facts for kids
The Gulf of Santa Catalina, sometimes called the Gulf of Catalina, is a large bay in the Pacific Ocean. It's located off the west coast of North America. The eastern side of this gulf touches the states of California in the United States and Baja California in Mexico. The biggest city found on its shore is San Diego.
One important island in the gulf is Santa Catalina Island. The gulf itself is huge, covering more than 100 square miles. It stretches along the east coast of Catalina Island and the beaches of Orange County, Los Angeles County, and San Diego County. The area around the Gulf of Santa Catalina is known for being seismically active. This means that earthquakes can happen there sometimes.
Exploring the Gulf
The Gulf of Santa Catalina was first explored by Europeans in 1542. A Spanish explorer named Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo sailed into the gulf. He came from a place called Navidad with his ship, the San Salvador, and two other ships. This was an important moment in mapping this part of the world.
