California’s Channel Islands: The Galapagos of North America

Off the coast of southern California, the Channel Islands seem to float on the horizon like ribbons of dark rock. The 8 islands and their encircling waters are home to over 2,000 species of animals and plants—145 of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Often referred to as the Galapagos of North America, isolation over thousands of years and the mingling of warm and cold ocean currents give rise to the rich biodiversity of these islands. Today, five of the islands, their submerged lands, and the waters within one nautical mile of each island are protected as Channel Islands National Park. Spanning more than 12,000 years of human history, the northern Channel Islands were home to many native Chumash communities who are believed to have inhabited the islands for thousands of years. The islands have attracted many explorers, scientists, and historians during the past few centuries.

Channel Islands National Park was established in 1980, in large part to protect the unique natural and cultural resources found on the islands and within ocean waters, and the park has a long history of monitoring, protecting, and restoring these resources. Jasmine Reinhardt, a National Park Service interpretation and education program manager, covers the diverse history, geography, and unique flora and fauna of these islands and the people who protect them today.

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