Page 145 - California Diving and Surfing
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Santa Cruz Island
T he largest Channel Island features 96 square miles cies found only on Santa Cruz Island, plus rare birds,
of mountainous terrain, including the highest reptiles, mammals, and amphibians. Santa Cruz Island
peak, Mount Diablo (Devil’s Peak), at 2450 feet. The sits in the transition zone of warm southerly and
easternmost 24% of the island belongs to Channel colder northerly currents, creating diverse underwa-
Islands National Park, and the balance is controlled by ter life. Especially on the northern side, there are lots
the Nature Conservancy. The island has year-round of sea caves, including Painted Cave, the largest sea
streams and springs, a fresh water marsh, hundreds of cave in the world.
plant and animal species, including eight plant spe-
