The Santa Barbara Channel is a portion of the Southern California Bight and separates the mainland of California from the northern Channel Islands. It is generally south of the city of Santa Barbara, and west of the Oxnard Plain in Ventura County.
Looking south-southwest, across the Santa Barbara Channel; the city of Santa Barbara, California is below, and Santa Cruz Island is in the distance.
Channel Islands (California)
The Channel Islands are an eight-island archipelago located within the Southern California Bight in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California. They define the Santa Barbara Channel, which sits between the islands and the California mainland. The four Northern Channel Islands are part of the Transverse Ranges geologic province, and the four Southern Channel Islands are part of the Peninsular Ranges province. Five of the islands are within the Channel Islands National Park, and the waters surrounding these islands make up Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. The Nature Conservancy was instrumental in establishing the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
Channel Islands (California)
Beach of Santa Cruz Island
Beach at San Miguel
Tomols or te'aats are Chumash and Tongva boats used to travel throughout the islands and to the mainland.