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The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary encompasses 1,658 square miles of ocean and nearshore habitat surrounding San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa and Santa Barbara Islands. A fertile combination of warm and cool currents results in a great variety of marine life, including forests of giant kelp, flourishing populations of fishes and invertebrates and a wide array of marine mammals and marine birds.

Watson A. West underway

There are many documented shipwrecks in the waters of the sanctuary such as the four-masted schooner Watson A. West, stranded off of San Miguel Island and the California Gold-Rush passenger steamer Winfield Scott which stranded on Anacapa Island and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The significant number of shipwrecks within this sanctuary's boundaries can largely be attributed to prevailing currents and weather conditions, combined with natural hazards. The shipwreck remains of the Channel Islands reflect the diverse range of activities and nationalities that traversed the Santa Barbara Channel. European sailing and steam vessels, California built Chinese junks, American coastal traders, vessels engaged in island commerce and a Gold-Rush-era side-wheel steamer, have all been lost in these waters. Each has a story to tell about the history, technology and society of earlier times. Between the years 1853 to 1980, an inventory of over 140 shipwrecks has been documented in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and National Park. To date about twenty sites have been located. Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary has a very active shipwreck reconnaissance program, and several of the submerged sites have been recorded through the development of underwater maps.

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Part 1 - Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Data Exercise:

Print out the chart of Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
Go to this map of San Miguel Island and label Point Bennett, Cuyler Harbor, Wilson Rock and Simonton Cove Go to this map of Santa Rosa Island and label Talcott Shoal, Bechers Bay, Johnson's Lee, South Point, Skunk Point, Ford Point and Bee Rock Go to this map of Santa Cruz Island and label Prisoner's Harbor (on the north side of the island by the isthmus) and Valley Anchorage on the south side of the island by the isthmus). Go to this map of Anacapa Island and label Frenchy's cove (on the northeast side of west Anacapa Island) on your chart. Go to this map of Santa Barbara Island and find and label Sutil Island on your chart.Plot the shipwrecks listed in the data table for each site on each chart by placing a small x at the area on the map where the latitude and longitude intersect.
Are there certain areas within the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary that seem more prone to shipwrecks than others? Can you think of any reasons why this may be the case?
Are there certain times of year where there seemed to be more shipwrecks reported? Can you think of any reasons why this might be the case?
How many shipwrecks were reported in CINMS and OCNMS before 1942? How many were reported after 1942? Can you think of any reason for this difference?

Check your answers on our Answer Page

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Part 2-Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Questions:

Name two vessels lost in the same sanctuary seventy-years apart. They were owned by the same company and on the same coastal route at the time of their loss, and each one carried a precious metal as part of its cargo.
Name the vessel that was being used in a famous feature movie when it sank.
Name three vessels built within five years of each other at the same shipyard and lost in the same sanctuary within a six-year period.
Name the shipwreck that was engaged in transporting illegal contraband.
The founder of a prominent university in California named this ship in honor of his wife.
What shipwreck caused over 300 passengers to be stranded on an island for eight days? The desolate island was not much more than a rock.
Mariners now have modern technology assisting them in navigating the Pacific West Coast. Would you consider ocean travel? Explain why you are excited about or hesitant about going to sea.

Check your answers on our Answer Page

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Revised by The CINMS webmaster
National Ocean Service | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | U.S. Department of Commerce
http://channelislands.noaa.gov
channelislands.noaa.gov /shipwreck/cinms.html


Shipwreck Home Channel Islands NMS Background Data Exercise Database Questions Answer Key Monterey Bay NMS Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Banks NMS Olympic Coast NMS Charts Shipwreck Database Links Bibliography CINMS Home	The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary encompasses 1,658 square miles of ocean and nearshore habitat surrounding San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa and Santa Barbara Islands. A fertile combination of warm and cool currents results in a great variety of marine life, including forests of giant kelp, flourishing populations of fishes and invertebrates and a wide array of marine mammals and marine birds. Watson A. West underway There are many documented shipwrecks in the waters of the sanctuary such as the four-masted schooner Watson A. West, stranded off of San Miguel Island and the California Gold-Rush passenger steamer Winfield Scott which stranded on Anacapa Island and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The significant number of shipwrecks within this sanctuary's boundaries can largely be attributed to prevailing currents and weather conditions, combined with natural hazards. The shipwreck remains of the Channel Islands reflect the diverse range of activities and nationalities that traversed the Santa Barbara Channel. European sailing and steam vessels, California built Chinese junks, American coastal traders, vessels engaged in island commerce and a Gold-Rush-era side-wheel steamer, have all been lost in these waters. Each has a story to tell about the history, technology and society of earlier times. Between the years 1853 to 1980, an inventory of over 140 shipwrecks has been documented in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and National Park. To date about twenty sites have been located. Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary has a very active shipwreck reconnaissance program, and several of the submerged sites have been recorded through the development of underwater maps. Top of Page Part 1 - Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Data Exercise: Print out the chart of Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Go to this map of San Miguel Island and label Point Bennett, Cuyler Harbor, Wilson Rock and Simonton Cove Go to this map of Santa Rosa Island and label Talcott Shoal, Bechers Bay, Johnson's Lee, South Point, Skunk Point, Ford Point and Bee Rock Go to this map of Santa Cruz Island and label Prisoner's Harbor (on the north side of the island by the isthmus) and Valley Anchorage on the south side of the island by the isthmus). Go to this map of Anacapa Island and label Frenchy's cove (on the northeast side of west Anacapa Island) on your chart. Go to this map of Santa Barbara Island and find and label Sutil Island on your chart.Plot the shipwrecks listed in the data table for each site on each chart by placing a small x at the area on the map where the latitude and longitude intersect. Are there certain areas within the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary that seem more prone to shipwrecks than others? Can you think of any reasons why this may be the case? Are there certain times of year where there seemed to be more shipwrecks reported? Can you think of any reasons why this might be the case? How many shipwrecks were reported in CINMS and OCNMS before 1942? How many were reported after 1942? Can you think of any reason for this difference? Check your answers on our Answer Page Top of Page Part 2-Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Questions: Name two vessels lost in the same sanctuary seventy-years apart. They were owned by the same company and on the same coastal route at the time of their loss, and each one carried a precious metal as part of its cargo. Name the vessel that was being used in a famous feature movie when it sank. Name three vessels built within five years of each other at the same shipyard and lost in the same sanctuary within a six-year period. Name the shipwreck that was engaged in transporting illegal contraband. The founder of a prominent university in California named this ship in honor of his wife. What shipwreck caused over 300 passengers to be stranded on an island for eight days? The desolate island was not much more than a rock. Mariners now have modern technology assisting them in navigating the Pacific West Coast. Would you consider ocean travel? Explain why you are excited about or hesitant about going to sea. Check your answers on our Answer Page Top of Page
	Home \| CINMS \| MBNMS \| CBNMS \| GFNMS \| Charts \| Database Links \| Bibliography \| Revised by The CINMS webmaster National Ocean Service \| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration \| U.S. Department of Commerce http://channelislands.noaa.gov channelislands.noaa.gov /shipwreck/cinms.html