Año Nuevo Island (Año Nuevo is Spanish for New Year) is a small island off Año Nuevo Point on the coast of Northern California, between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. It has an area of nine acres, or four hectares. It is an important breeding site for Northern Elephant Seals and the endangered Steller's Sea Lion, as well as several species of seabirds, including Rhinoceros Auklets, Brandt's Cormorants and Western Gulls. Due to the number of seals and sea lions, great white sharks are frequently spotted patrolling the waters around the island.