Santa Cruz Island

Santa Cruz Island

Native name: Isla de Santa Cruz (Spanish) Limuw or Michumash (Cruzeño)
ESA satellite image of Santa Cruz Island
Geography
Coordinates	34°00′N 119°43′W / 34.000°N 119.717°W / 34.000; -119.717
Area	250 km2 (97 sq mi)
Length	35 km (21.7 mi)
Width	10 km (6 mi)
Highest elevation	740 m (2430 ft)
Highest point	Devils Peak
Administration
United States
State	California
County	Santa Barbara
Demographics
Population	Rangers and tourists are the only residents

Santa Cruz Island (Spanish: Isla Santa Cruz, Chumash: Limuw^[1]) is located off the southwestern coast of Ventura, California, United States. It is the largest island in California^[2] and largest of the eight islands in the Channel Islands archipelago and Channel Islands National Park.^[3] Forming part of the northern group of the Channel Islands, Santa Cruz is 22 miles (35 km) long and 2 to 6 miles (3 to 10 km) wide with an area of 61,764.6 acres (249.952 km²).

The island's coastline has steep cliffs, large sea caves, coves, and sandy beaches. The highest point is Devils Peak, at over 2,450 feet (747 m). A central valley splits the island along the Santa Cruz Island Fault, with volcanic rock on the north and older sedimentary rock on the south. This volcanic rock was heavily fractured during an uplift phase that formed the island, and over a hundred large sea caves have been carved into the resulting faults. The largest is Painted Cave, among^[quantify] the world's largest.^[4]

The island is part of Santa Barbara County, California. The 2000 census showed a population of two people.^[5] Santa Cruz is the largest privately owned island off the contiguous United States. Ownership is split between the National Park Service (24%) and the Nature Conservancy (76%).^[3]

Public passenger access to the eastern portion of Santa Cruz Island is provided by the Island Packers ferry service out of the Ventura Harbor.