The Mayor finally had the opportunity to stop over at the Channel Islands Park visitor center located at the harbor in Oxnard, Ca. After a winding, somewhat disjointed path, we arrived at the facility perched at the end of the harbor breakwater entrance. Constructed of wood siding, the low profile structure makes an impressive statement among the masts and pier-head gates that surround its location.
The atrium at the entrance features table top relief maps of all the islands, including Santa Barbara. Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, San Miguel, and Anacapa are laid out so the viewer gets a bird's eye perspective of each. For the first time I was able to appreciate the layout and relation of each to the other. Who knew that Santa Cruz is cleaved almost in half by a major fault line running the entire interior length? But there it is, in bold relief.
The on duty ranger suggested we watch the 20 minute film getting ready to be shown in the theater. This film is a well done, professional glimpse of life on the islands, including the submarine near shore environment that that is home to a vast collection of marine life, including one of the largest kelp forests on the planet.
There is an aquarium available for a close up look at the marine environment located adjacent to the atrium. An information desk completes the building, including a small bookstore.
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