Año Nuevo Island
Aerial view of Año Nuevo Island, 2009
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 Año Nuevo Island
Año Nuevo Island
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| Geography | |
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| Coordinates | 37°06′30″N 122°20′16″W / 37.1083°N 122.3378°WCoordinates: 37°06′30″N 122°20′16″W / 37.1083°N 122.3378°W |
| Total islands | 1 |
| Area | 0.0364217 km2 (0.0140625 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| State | California |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Año Nuevo Island (Año Nuevo is Spanish for New Year) is a small island off Año Nuevo Point on the coast of Northern California, between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. It has an area of nine acres, or four hectares. 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 State Marine Conservation Area and Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area are two adjoining marine protected areas off the coast of Año Nuevo State Park. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems. The waters of Año Nuevo State Marine Conservation Area surround Año Nuevo Island.
As recently as the 18th century, what is today Año Nuevo Island was a peninsula. It has since become separated from the mainland by a channel that continues to widen. The island is mainly made up of Miocene shale and deposits from ancient dunes, along with a broad intertidal shelf and low, rocky islets, all of which are frequently altered by the erosive pounding of waves, particularly during winter storms.
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