Anacapa Island - Definition and Overview

NASA satellite image of Anacapa Island

Anacapa Island is a small volcanic island located about 14 miles (22.5 kilometers) off the coast of Ventura, California, in Ventura County.

Anacapa is part of the Channel Islands island chain, and is part of the Channel Islands National Park. It is the smallest of the northern islands. The island is actually composed of three islets; the island's size, perhaps unclear because of the geographic issue of the islets, is measured as either 699 acres (282.8 hectares) or 717 acres (290 hectares).

Anacapa has only one resident—a National Park Ranger who lives in government housing on the island.

Anacapa is the only one of the Channel Islands to have a non-Spanish-derived name. Anacapa comes from the Chumash word eneepah, meaning mirage island.

Channel Islands of California: Anacapa Island - San Clemente Island - San Miguel Island San Nicolas Island - Santa Barbara Island     Santa Catalina Island - Santa Cruz Island - Santa Rosa Island