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1981 Map of Point Conception

Name: 1981 Topographic Map of Point Conception
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The Santa Ynez Mountains descend to the Pacific coastline where the iconic Point Conception headland marks the transition between Central and Southern California. This 1981 survey documents the rugged coastal geography of Santa Barbara County, including the prominent lighthouse and the coastal path of the Southern Pacific railroad. Small settlements like Gaviota, Concepcion, and Tajiguas dot the narrow shoreline beneath the mountains, while much of the upland is protected within the Los Padres National Forest.

Across the Santa Barbara Channel, the map details the remote geography of the northernmost Channel Islands. Within the Channel Islands National Park, San Miguel Island and the western edge of Santa Rosa Island are mapped with precision. Key landmarks like Richardson Rock, Point Bennett, and Bechers Bay define these isolated landmasses, providing a clear record of the island topography and coastal features before the late 20th-century expansion of maritime conservation efforts.