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The farthest west of all the Channel Islands, San Miguel Island lays fifty-five miles off the coast of Ventura. With a total of 9,325 acres, the island is filled with succulent grasses and beautiful wildflowers, and is subject to weather the other Channel Islands are not, such as fog and stronger winds, due to it's open oceanic location. The least accessible of the four Northern Channel Islands, San Miguel's landmarks include Green Mountain, which rises to 831 feet at its highest point, and Prince Island, a small islet at the mouth of Cuyler's Harbor consisting of over 39 acres.
Containing a rocky coastline with scattered
sandy beaches, the Island of San Miguel is famous worldwide for having as
many as 20,000 seals and sea lions at Point Bennett in the winter, and six
different species of pinnipeds as well. One of the island's historical
sights is the steamship Cuba, the wreck of which can be seen underwater
off of Point Bennett. Called "Tuqan" by the Native Chumash, the main
village, also named Tuqan, contained only a modest population at the time
of the missions, perhaps due to the fact that San Miguel has no streams
and only one good spring. Although the island has no usable sandstone and
no steatite, numerous stone objects have been found, pointing to frequent
trade with the mainland. The island was named "San Miguel" by the English
Explorer George Vancouver in 1793.
Treasure In The Sea: Channel Islands - San MiguelVideo Audio