Santa Clara Public Library

The California State Library is pleased to partner with the National Park Service for the third presentation in a series of webinars. Join Jasmine Reinhardt for a virtual presentation on Channel Islands National Park. Off the coast of southern California, the Channel Islands seem to float on the horizon like ribbons of dark rock. The northern Channel Islands were home to Native Chumash communities for at least 12,000 years. The eight islands and their encircling waters host over 2,000 species of animals and plants – 145 found nowhere else on Earth. Often referred to as the Galapagos of North America, isolation over thousands of years and the mingling of warm and cold ocean currents has given rise to this rich biodiversity. Today, five of the islands, their submerged lands, and the waters within one nautical mile of each island are protected as Channel Islands National Park, which was established in large part to protect these unique natural and cultural resources. Join us for this virtual presentation about the diverse history, geography, and unique flora and fauna of the islands and the people who protect them.