Nathan

=**__Anacapa Island__**=

Anacapa is 14 miles off the coast of Ventura at 34* latitude -119.4* longitude. It is also 5 miles east of Santa Cruz and northwest of Santa Barbara. Anybody who goes to any Ventura Beach it is the island on the left or the one with the arch known as arch rock. Although, the location is amazing what really makes Anacapa so Awesome is the appearance . The island looks like Nessie from pictures that were shown to me. The island’s Miocene is made up of igneous rock (volcanic rock). Due to weathering there are sheer cliffs creating the 3 islets. Arch Rock and caves are results of eroded and/or weathered igneous rock. Fissures are results of volcanic activity. It looks as though the plateaus are man made and possibly the help of wind erosion. Even though, the appearance of Anacapa is overwhelming it holds some magnificently special animals. Sea Lettuce (Ulva lactuca), Coralline Algae (Bossiella plumose) and Elk Kelp (Pelagophycus porra) are native and endemic to Anacapa. Sea lettuce is a broad, crumpled, emerald colored blade that is usually attached to rocks. It can be torn easily. Corallines were once thought of as animals. All Coralline Algae are crunchy due to the calcium carbonate in their cell walls. Elk Kelp is somewhat unique to the Channel Islands. Elk Kelp is an algae. It is mostly endemic to Anacapa. The Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli), the Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) and the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) live near Anacapa Island. The Dall’s porpoise is strikingly colored black and white markings; and it can swim at speeds of 35 miles per hour; it is only native to Anacapa. The Double-crested Cormorant is a diving bird that can dive for as long as 70 seconds and 8m (25 feet) down. The Northern elephant seal is actually the largest seal in the world; it is an excellent swimmer because of the structure of its body; they are also endemic to Anacapa.