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Exploring the beautiful nature of California


California Nature: Ano Nuevo State Park


La Punta de Ano Nuevo (The Point of the New Year) was named by the Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno on January 3, 1603. It's one of the oldest place-names in California. Ano Nuevo State Reserve was created in 1958 to protect protected elephant seals. At the time of its discovery, the Point was occupied by the Ohlone, who lived off the bounty of sea. Judging from kitchen midden sites-shell mounds-found in the nearby dunes, it was a rich bounty indeed.

Ano Nuevo State Reserve is located just west of Highway 1, 22 miles north of Santa Cruz and 30 miles south of Half Moon Bay.

The Ano Nuevo area later hosted a variety of enterprises. From the 1850s to 1920, redwood cut from the slopes of the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains was shipped from Ano Nuevo Bay. A dairy industry flourished on the coastal bluffs. The reserve's visitor center is a restored century-old dairy barn.
Ano Nuevo Point a place in California Nature where Sea elephants come to breed One of the best new year's resolutions a walker could make is to plan a winter trip to Ano Nuevo State Reserve. Here you'll be treated to a wildlife drama that attracts visitors from all over the world-a close-up look at the largest mainland population of elephant seals.

From December through April, a colony of the huge creatures visits Ano Nuevo island and point in order to breed and bear young. To protect the elephant seals (and the humans who hike out to see them), the reserve is open only through naturalist-guided tours during these months.

Slaughtered for their oil-rich blubber, the elephant seal population numbered fewer than 100 by the early 1900s. Placed under government protection, the huge mammals rebounded rapidly from the brink of extinction.

Male elephant seals, some reaching lengths of 16 feet and weighing three tons, arrive in December and begin battling for dominance. Only a very small percentage of males actually get to inseminate a female; most remain lifelong bachelors. The females, relatively svelte at 1,200 to 2,000 pounds, come ashore in January and join the harems of the dominant males.
While the elephant seals are clearly the main attraction when they come ashore during the winter to breed and during the spring and summer to molt, the reserve is even fascinating when the big creatures are not in residence; in fact, Ano Nuevo is a year-round destination.

Bird-watchers may glimpse a cliff swallow, Western gull, red-tailed hawk and many other inland and shore birds. The beautiful sand dunes of the Reserve are covered with beach grass, morning glory and extensive patches of beach strawberry.

Joining the elephant seals on Ano Nuevo Island are Steller sea lions, California sea lions and harbor seals. Seals inhabit Ano Nuevo year-round.

Viewing is great in the spring and summer months-on the beaches. Autumn brings one- to three-year-old "yearling" seals ashore to rest on the beaches.
come to Ano Nuevo Point to get an up close view of sea elephants in California Nature The purpose of Ano Nuevo State Park, in San Mateo County, is to preserve and protect the scenic, biological, ecological, and cultural values of the central California coastline, including Ano Nuevo Island and properties on the western slope of the coast range inland from Ano Nuevo Point.

Ano Nuevo State Park protects and interprets the pinniped rookeries, a prime resource, and significant wildlife habitats on Ano Nuevo Island and the mainland. It also contains sensitive native dunes and coastal terrace prairie habitats, and a diversity of inland plant communities, including old growth forest, freshwater marsh, red alder riparian forest and knobcone pine forest. Its four perennial streams support steelhead trout and coho salmon, and its wetlands are habitat to the rare San Francisco garter snake and red-legged frog.

Cultural resources include the remnants of Native California Indian Ohlone occupation of the area and a number of structures from the nineteenth century Cascade Ranch and historic Steele Ranch. In conjunction with adjacent and nearby public lands, the unit protects important regional ecological corridors and linkages.
Ano Nuevo Point, where the elephant seals reside, is open only to visitors on guided walks, conducted by state park volunteer naturalists, from December through March. Año Nuevo State Park is the site of the largest mainland breeding colony in the world for the northern elephant seal, and the interpretive program has attracted increasing interest every winter for the past 19 years. People who hope to see the seals during the winter breeding season are urged to get their reservations early. The males battle for mates on the beaches and the females give birth to their pups on the dunes.

Guided walks are conducted daily and consist of a 2.5-hour, three mile long walk. Advance reservations for the guided walks are strongly recommended. Reservations can be made through the state park system's reservation contractor.

From April through November, access to the Ano Nuevo Point Wildlife Protection Area is by permit only. Permits are issued free of charge daily at the reserve, on a first come, first served basis.
 
 
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