Año Nuevo Island

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Abandoned buildings on Año Nuevo Island, photographed in 2005.
Abandoned buildings on Año Nuevo Island, photographed in 2005.

Año Nuevo Island (Año Nuevo is Spanish for New Year) is a small island off Año Nuevo Point on the coast of Northern California. It is an important breeding site for Northern Elephant Seals and the endangered Steller's Sea Lion, as well as several species of seabirds, including Rhinoceros Auklets, Brandt's Cormorants and Western Gulls. Due to the number of seals and sea lions, great white sharks are frequently spotted patrolling the waters around the island. It is protected as part of the Año Nuevo State Reserve.

Año Nuevo Island has a few abandoned buildings built in the late 1800s. A residential home and foghorn station, all abandoned, are located on the island. The original light tower was deliberately toppled in the early 2000s as it began to deteriorate and became a hazard to the resident wildlife.

[edit] See also

Coordinates: 37°06′30″N 122°20′16″W / 37.108333, -122.337778