Santa Catalina Island

This island sits 19 miles west of San Pedro, CA. It is 18 miles long. The northwestern side of the island is 2 miles wide, while the southwestern side is 4 miles wide, with the widest part of the island measuring 7 miles and the narrowest part of the island measuring 1/2 mile wide. It is a "rough and mountainous" island, with 46 miles of shoreline around it. "Connecting the eastern and western portions of the island, known as the "Isthmus," is only about 33 feet above the sea, and was marked, as the report states, by a large white building, formerly the United States barracks." The hills rise 1000 feet on either side of the Isthmus, and the southern cliffs are said to be abrupt while the northern side has high cliffs with canyons and "several indentations." Corn grinders and earthenware were found on the north shore, about 4 miles east of the Isthmus and its highest point is 2110 feet above sea level. In an 1895 L.A. Times article, it says, "the island is a favorite resort for excursionists" foretelling its future.

Sources For This Article
L.A.Times, The Islands of the Sea, Jan. 1, 1895, p.2.