Año Nuevo State Park is a state park of California, United States, encompassing Año Nuevo Island and Año Nuevo Point, which are known for their pinniped rookeries. Located in San Mateo County, the low, rocky, windswept point juts out into the Pacific Ocean about 55 miles (89 km) south of San Francisco and the Golden Gate. Año Nuevo State Natural Reserve, formerly a separate unit of the California state park system, was merged into Año Nuevo State Park in October 2008.[1] The coastal geographic center, or coastal-midpoint of California is located at the Northern end of this park at N 37°09′58″, W 122°21'40", as the absolute geographic center of California falls at N 37°09′58″, W 119°26′58″W.[2][3]
The reserve contains a diversity of plant communities, including old growth forest, freshwater marsh, red alderriparian forest and knobcone pine forest. Its four perennial streams support steelhead and coho salmon, and its wetlands are habitat to the rare San Francisco garter snake and California red-legged frog. Cultural resources include the remnants of a prehistoric Native American village site and a number of structures from the 19th century Cascade Ranch. In conjunction with adjacent and nearby public lands, the unit permits the protection of important regional ecological corridors.
The point remains undeveloped, much as Sebastián Vizcaíno saw it from his passing ship in 1603.
The QuirosteOhlone people were the first known to inhabit the Año Nuevo area. After Mission Santa Cruz was founded in 1791, the Quiroste population plunged due to the various diseases that the Spanish had brought with them.
The Spanish maritime explorer Sebastian Vizcaino sailed by the point on January 3, 1603. His diarist and chaplain of the expedition, Father Antonio de la Ascensión, named it Punta de Año Nuevo (New Year's Point) for the day on which they sighted it in 1603.[4] They had recently stopped in Monterey and had passed Año Nuevo while heading north.
The first European land exploration of Alta California was the Spanish Portolà expedition of 1760-70. Guided by Vizcaino's landmarks as it traveled north along the coast in 1769, the explorers recognized Point Año Nuevo. On the return journey to San Diego, the party camped at Año Nuevo Creek on November 19. Franciscan missionary Juan Crespi noted in his diary, "We...halted on a steep rock, in sight of the point which we judged to be Año Nuevo, on the bank of an arroyo which empties into the sea."[5]
After the mid-19th century, developments occurred, including the development of Año Nuevo Island and agriculture in the surrounding region. Once home to a large population of elephant seals, hunters greatly reduced the seal population by overhunting the species. Since the mid-20th century, the seal population has had a rebound and multiplied greatly. Elephant seals can be seen today on the wildlife reserve.
Northern elephant seal rookery on Ano Nuevo Point in February 2019
Northern elephant seals, California sea lions, sea otters, and other marine mammals come ashore to rest, mate, and give birth in the sand dunes or on the beaches and offshore islands. Hundreds of thousands of people come to witness it each year.
Año Nuevo State Park is the site of one of the largest mainland breeding colonies for the northern elephant seal (another is in Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area—100 miles (160 km) south near the town of Cambria and the San Simeon approach to Hearst Castle). The seals attract so much interest that early reservations are needed during the winter breeding season. The males battle for mates on the beaches and the females give birth to their pups on the dunes.
From mid-December through late March, daily access to the reserve is available on guided walks only. Most of the adult seals are gone by mid-March, leaving behind the weaned pups who remain through April. The elephant seals return to Año Nuevo's beaches during the spring (females) and summer (males) months to molt, and can be observed during this time through a permit system. Reservations for a guided walk during the breeding season are available by phone.[7]
Facilities
A Visitor Center features natural history exhibits and a bookstore offering educational items such as books, postcards and posters. Restrooms, drinking water and picnic tables are available near the Visitor Center only. Food and beverages are not sold at the reserve, although drinking water is available.
^"California State Park System Statistical Report: Fiscal Year 2009/10" (PDF). California State Parks. p. 5. Retrieved September 24, 2011.
^Exact Center of California: North Fork National Geographic/ Sierra Nevada Geotourism. By Maureen Walling. Downloaded July 22, 2017
^Google Maps: Coastal Geographic Center of California Google Maps Pints of Interest. Downloaded Sep. 22, 2017
^William Bright; Erwin Gustav Gudde (November 30, 1998). 1500 California place names: their origin and meaning. University of California Press. p. 16. ISBN978-0-520-21271-8. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
^Bolton, Herbert E. (1927). Fray Juan Crespi: Missionary Explorer on the Pacific Coast, 1769-1774. HathiTrust Digital Library. pp. 238–243. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
^Rogers, Paul (January 31, 2020). "Redwood forest in Santa Cruz Mountains preserved in $9 million deal". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
^"Año Nuevo State Reserve, California State Parks, San Mateo County". Bay Area Hiker web site. April 5, 2005. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
^"Cascade Ranch Unit, Año Nuevo State Reserve, California State Parks, San Mateo County". Bay Area Hiker web site. November 16, 2001. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Año Nuevo State Park.
Parks.ca.gov: Año Nuevo State Park
August 21, 2023
año, nuevo, state, park, state, park, california, united, states, encompassing, año, nuevo, island, año, nuevo, point, which, known, their, pinniped, rookeries, located, mateo, county, rocky, windswept, point, juts, into, pacific, ocean, about, miles, south, f. Ano Nuevo State Park is a state park of California United States encompassing Ano Nuevo Island and Ano Nuevo Point which are known for their pinniped rookeries Located in San Mateo County the low rocky windswept point juts out into the Pacific Ocean about 55 miles 89 km south of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Ano Nuevo State Natural Reserve formerly a separate unit of the California state park system was merged into Ano Nuevo State Park in October 2008 1 The coastal geographic center or coastal midpoint of California is located at the Northern end of this park at N 37 09 58 W 122 21 40 as the absolute geographic center of California falls at N 37 09 58 W 119 26 58 W 2 3 Ano Nuevo State ParkIUCN category III natural monument or feature Ano Nuevo State ParkShow map of CaliforniaShow map of the United StatesLocationSan Mateo County California United StatesNearest cityPescadero CaliforniaCoordinates37 7 59 N 122 19 59 W 37 13306 N 122 33306 W 37 13306 122 33306Area4 209 acres 17 03 km2 Established1985Governing bodyCalifornia Department of Parks and RecreationU S National Natural LandmarkDesignated1980The reserve contains a diversity of plant communities including old growth forest freshwater marsh red alder riparian forest and knobcone pine forest Its four perennial streams support steelhead and coho salmon and its wetlands are habitat to the rare San Francisco garter snake and California red legged frog Cultural resources include the remnants of a prehistoric Native American village site and a number of structures from the 19th century Cascade Ranch In conjunction with adjacent and nearby public lands the unit permits the protection of important regional ecological corridors The point remains undeveloped much as Sebastian Vizcaino saw it from his passing ship in 1603 Contents 1 History 2 Pinniped colonies 3 Facilities 4 Adjacent attractions 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditThe Quiroste Ohlone people were the first known to inhabit the Ano Nuevo area After Mission Santa Cruz was founded in 1791 the Quiroste population plunged due to the various diseases that the Spanish had brought with them The Spanish maritime explorer Sebastian Vizcaino sailed by the point on January 3 1603 His diarist and chaplain of the expedition Father Antonio de la Ascension named it Punta de Ano Nuevo New Year s Point for the day on which they sighted it in 1603 4 They had recently stopped in Monterey and had passed Ano Nuevo while heading north The first European land exploration of Alta California was the Spanish Portola expedition of 1760 70 Guided by Vizcaino s landmarks as it traveled north along the coast in 1769 the explorers recognized Point Ano Nuevo On the return journey to San Diego the party camped at Ano Nuevo Creek on November 19 Franciscan missionary Juan Crespi noted in his diary We halted on a steep rock in sight of the point which we judged to be Ano Nuevo on the bank of an arroyo which empties into the sea 5 After the mid 19th century developments occurred including the development of Ano Nuevo Island and agriculture in the surrounding region Once home to a large population of elephant seals hunters greatly reduced the seal population by overhunting the species Since the mid 20th century the seal population has had a rebound and multiplied greatly Elephant seals can be seen today on the wildlife reserve Save the Redwoods League purchased a 564 acre 228 ha parcel known as Cascade Creek in 2020 that links Ano Nuevo with Big Basin Redwoods State Park 6 Pinniped colonies Edit Northern elephant seal rookery on Ano Nuevo Point in February 2019Northern elephant seals California sea lions sea otters and other marine mammals come ashore to rest mate and give birth in the sand dunes or on the beaches and offshore islands Hundreds of thousands of people come to witness it each year Ano Nuevo State Park is the site of one of the largest mainland breeding colonies for the northern elephant seal another is in Piedras Blancas State Marine Reserve and Marine Conservation Area 100 miles 160 km south near the town of Cambria and the San Simeon approach to Hearst Castle The seals attract so much interest that early reservations are needed during the winter breeding season The males battle for mates on the beaches and the females give birth to their pups on the dunes From mid December through late March daily access to the reserve is available on guided walks only Most of the adult seals are gone by mid March leaving behind the weaned pups who remain through April The elephant seals return to Ano Nuevo s beaches during the spring females and summer males months to molt and can be observed during this time through a permit system Reservations for a guided walk during the breeding season are available by phone 7 Facilities EditA Visitor Center features natural history exhibits and a bookstore offering educational items such as books postcards and posters Restrooms drinking water and picnic tables are available near the Visitor Center only Food and beverages are not sold at the reserve although drinking water is available The parking lot is just west of California Route 1 at 37 7 10 N 122 18 25 W 37 11944 N 122 30694 W 37 11944 122 30694 8 The former Cascade Ranch unit of the reserve includes steep unmarked hikes in the coastal hills inland of the highway 9 Adjacent attractions EditAno Nuevo State Marine Conservation Area and Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area are two adjoining marine protected areas off the coast of Ano Nuevo State Park Like underwater parks these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park Butano State Park and numerous other parks and beaches are within 5 miles 8 0 km of Ano Nuevo 7 See also EditThe Marine Mammal Center List of beaches in California List of California state parksReferences Edit California State Park System Statistical Report Fiscal Year 2009 10 PDF California State Parks p 5 Retrieved September 24 2011 Exact Center of California North Fork National Geographic Sierra Nevada Geotourism By Maureen Walling Downloaded July 22 2017 Google Maps Coastal Geographic Center of California Google Maps Pints of Interest Downloaded Sep 22 2017 William Bright Erwin Gustav Gudde November 30 1998 1500 California place names their origin and meaning University of California Press p 16 ISBN 978 0 520 21271 8 Retrieved January 20 2012 Bolton Herbert E 1927 Fray Juan Crespi Missionary Explorer on the Pacific Coast 1769 1774 HathiTrust Digital Library pp 238 243 Retrieved April 1 2014 Rogers Paul January 31 2020 Redwood forest in Santa Cruz Mountains preserved in 9 million deal Santa Cruz Sentinel Retrieved February 1 2020 a b Ano Nuevo State Park official web page California State Park System Retrieved August 31 2011 Ano Nuevo State Reserve California State Parks San Mateo County Bay Area Hiker web site April 5 2005 Retrieved August 31 2011 Cascade Ranch Unit Ano Nuevo State Reserve California State Parks San Mateo County Bay Area Hiker web site November 16 2001 Retrieved August 31 2011 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ano Nuevo State Park Parks ca gov Ano Nuevo State Park Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ano Nuevo State Park amp oldid 1163719522, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
