Angelina+Santa+Cruz

=== Santa Cruz Island is the largest island in all of California’s Channel Islands. It is part of California’s Channel Islands. As the legend states, Santa Cruz was named after a priest’s staff who accidentally left on the island during the Portola expedition of 1769. Chumash Indians found cross tipped stave and returned it to the priest. The Spaniards were so grateful that they began to call this island of very helpful and friendly people, “La Isla de Santa Cruz”, the island of the Sacred cross that the Chumash Indians have found. ===

=== Santa Cruz is located 22 miles off the coast of Ventura. It is over 96 square miles. It is also 61,764 acres! That’s really big! It goes over 2,000 feet in the air. It is 24 miles long and 6 miles wide. It is between Santa Rosa Island and Anacapa Island. It doesn’t take much of The Pacific Ocean, but it is still the biggest island of all of California’s Channel Islands. Santa Cruz isn't just located on a map for nothing, it's physical appearence helps make the island. ===

=== Santa Cruz is an amazing sight to see. If you go to the highest peak (Devil’s Peak) you will truly be impressed at the sight. You will see a C-shaped curve in the island. From a birds’ point of view the island looks like it was carved straight down the middle. The island has many steep cliffs, sea caves, and sandy beaches. These sandy beaches are very helpful to all of the fish that live to the side of the island. ===

===    Did you know that Anacapa has over 1,000 species of animals and plants? Some of the animals live underwater and some live above water. There is one that I am familiar with; the Bat Ray. The Bat Ray has a large blunt head and most animals are intimidated by the ray, but they happen to be really very shy and gentle. The ray aggregates with large groups of fish. Santa Cruz has many animals above water too. One of the animals that I know that lives at Santa Cruz is the Island Fox. The fox has brown, orange, white, and gray fur. The island fox population has been getting smaller and smaller in the last ten years. From an estimated count, there were 5,400 island foxes in San Miguel, Santa Rosa, and of course, Santa Cruz in 1994. Today it has decreased to only about 1,300! They decrease because they are surviving on very small islands, and not in the open. There are not just animals on the island; there are also many, many plants. One of the plants that live underwater is, Southern Palm Kelp. Southern Palm Kelp is known for looking like a palm tree. But nothing can compare to what is coming next. ===

=== The are many plants that don't live in the water, such as the Santa Cruz Island silver lotus (Scientific Name: Lotus argophyllus v. niveus). The plant lives only on Santa Cruz and is know as an endangered species by the state of California. They have green leaves that look like petals and surprise with a golden inside. ===

=== Therefore, Santa Cruz is the largest island of all California’s Channel Islands; is located 22 miles off the coast of Ventura; looks C-shaped; is the home of: The Bat Ray, and The Island Fox. It is a habitat to Southern Palm Kelp, and the Santa Cruz silver lotus. Therefore (again), Santa Cruz is a beautiful island with amazing sites to see. ===