Año Nuevo State Park
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Año Nuevo State Park
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 Colony of northern elephant seals in Año Nuevo State Park |
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| location | San Mateo County in California (USA) | |
| surface | 1703 ha | |
| Geographical location | 37 ° 8 ' N , 122 ° 20' W | |
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| Setup date | 1985 | |
| administration | California Dept. of Parks and Recreation | |
Año Nuevo State Park is a California state park in San Mateo County , best known for its colony of northern elephant seals. The park is approximately 55 miles (89 km) south of the Golden Gate on the coast of the Pacific Ocean .
history
The park is named after a headland that the Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno named Punta del Año Nuevo ( New Year's Cape ) on January 3, 1603 . Thousands of years before Vizcaíno circled the landmark, the Quiroste Ohlone had settled the area. After the establishment of the Santa Cruz Mission , the Quiroste Ohlone population decreased dramatically as a result of introduced diseases. Until the first half of the 19th century, the missionaries used the area for agriculture.
In 1861 the brothers Isaac, George, and Edgar Steele bought the land and set up a dairy farm that remained in operation for the next 80 years. The historical buildings, which still shape the character of the park today, also date from this period.
In 1958, the state of California bought the offshore island of Año Nuevo Island and part of the coastal strip to protect the animals living there. In 1985 around 1206 hectares of the adjoining coastal mountains were added.
gallery
Park's coastline facing north
The entrance area to the park is characterized by the historic buildings of the former dairy farm
The northern elephant seals attract many visitors, especially during their mating season, when they are rearing their young and when they are changing their fur
Web links
- Año Nuevo State Park at California Department of Parks and Recreation
Individual evidence
- ↑ On this and the following cf. the Año Nuevo State Park brochure from the California Department of Parks and Recreation.