Earth from Space - Image Description

STS078-754-089 Santa Barbara Islands, California June, 1996
The islands (top to bottom) of Santa Cruz, Santa Rose, and San Miguel can be seen in this near-vertical view. The islands, the exposed tops of low mountains, are the westward extension of the Santa Monica Mountains of southern California and are separated from the mainland by the Santa Barbara Channel. The islands, uninhabited by humans, are home to large populations of sea lions, nesting seabirds, and other unusual animal and plant life.

This service is provided by the International Space Station program and the JSC Earth Science & Remote Sensing Unit, ARES Division, Exploration Integration Science Directorate.