Santa Catalina Island CA (Avalon, California)

Santa Catalina Island (aka Catalina Island) is located off California's coast (USA) in the Gulf of Santa Catalina (Pacific Ocean). The island has length of 35 km (22 mi) and max width of 13 km (8 mi). It is located approx 35 km (22 mi) southwest of Los Angeles. Its highest elevation point (Mt Orizaba) is 639 m (2097 ft). Catalina Island is part of Channel Islands (Californian archipelago of 8 islands).

The island's only town is Avalon - located on the southeastern coast.

Originally, Catalina was settled by Native Americans who named the island Pimu (Pimugna). The first Europeans on Catalina were the Spanish, but over the years, territorial claims were transferred to Mexico and later to USA. The island was developed as tousit destination in the early 1920s by William Wrigley Jr (1861-1832, chewing gum industrialist.

Of Catalina's total population (around 4,000), nearly 90% live in Avalon (island's only city). Online searching for "Isla Catalina" often results in finding three Catalina-named islands - the namesakes Isla Catalina (Baja Mexico), Isla Catalina (Dominican Republic) and the island Santa Catalina (California USA).

Santa Catalina Island CA cruise terminal