Begg Rock
Begg Rock is located in USA California Channel Islands
Begg Rock
Begg Rock
Begg Rock (California)
Begg Rock is located in California
Begg Rock
Begg Rock
Begg Rock (California)
Geography
LocationVentura County California Pacific
Coordinates33°21′43″N 119°41′42″W / 33.362°N 119.695°W / 33.362; -119.695
ArchipelagoChannel Islands of California
Highest pointnot named
Administration
United States
Demographics
Population0

Begg Rock is an offshore rock pinnacle system located 8.8 miles (14.2 km) northwest of Vizcaino Point, the west point of San Nicolas Island, Ventura County, California,[1] It rises 50 fathoms (300 ft; 91 m) from the ocean floor, with its highest pinnacle reaching an elevation of 15 feet (4.6 m) above sea level.[2][3] A reef extends north and south of the island over 100 yards (91 m) in each direction.[4] A lighted whistle buoy is 500 yards (460 m) north of the rock.[5] This rock may be found on NOAA chart 18755.[6] This rock was given its name by the Coast Survey,[7] being named for the boat, John Begg, which struck a nearby rock in 1824.[8] The entire area is surrounded by Begg Rock State Marine Reserve.

Begg Rock extends almost vertically down from above the surface. It has several pinnacles, a couple of which are always above water and a couple that are only exposed at low tide. The vertical walls of the rock are covered in filter-feeding organisms such as mussels, green anemones, and pisaster starfish. Below 40 feet (12 meters) are large areas of brightly colored Corynactus anemones. Past about 70 feet (21 Meters) are patches of white Metridium anemones. The site used to be famous for large rock scallops, which were depleted by hunters. As a State Marine Reserve, Begg Rock is currently a no-take zone.[3]

See also

Footnotes

  1. US Dept of Commerce (1997). United States Coast Pilot 7 Pacific Coast: California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. 31st edition. Washington DC: NOAA.
  2. US Dept of Commerce (1997). United States Coast Pilot 7 Pacific Coast: California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. 31st edition. Washington DC: NOAA.
  3. 1 2 "Begg Rock State Marine Reserve". California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
  4. US Dept of Commerce (1997). United States Coast Pilot 7 Pacific Coast: California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. 31st edition. Washington DC: NOAA.
  5. US Dept of Commerce (1997). United States Coast Pilot 7 Pacific Coast: California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. 31st edition. Washington DC: NOAA.
  6. US Dept of Commerce (1997). United States Coast Pilot 7 Pacific Coast: California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. 31st edition. Washington DC: NOAA.
  7. Erwin G. Gudde, William Bright (2004). California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names.
  8. Erwin G. Gudde, William Bright (2004). California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names.

References

  • US Dept of Commerce (1997). United States Coast Pilot 7 Pacific Coast: California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. 31st edition. Washington DC: NOAA.
  • Gudde, Erwin Gustav and William Bright (2004). California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names. Berkeley and Los Angeles, California: University of California Press.

NOAA Chart 18755

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