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This article is written in American English, which has its own spelling conventions (color, defense, traveled) and some terms that are used in it may be different or absent from other varieties of English. According to the relevant style guide, this should not be changed without broad consensus.

How was this belief held "from medieval times" up through the 18th century? Had Europeans even reached California in medieval times? Meelar 06:50, 6 Mar 2004 (UTC)

Good question. I think it began in 1510, which is late Medieval times by some definitions. It's a little confusing, however, and I'm in the process of rewriting it based on some better info I've gotten. – Decumanus 06:56, 6 Mar 2004 (UTC)

Is "Vermexo" really "see better (ver mejor)"? "Vermelho" is Portuguese for "red" (cf. Eng. "vermilion") and I believe "vermejo" is an old Spanish word for the same. Is it simply the Red Sea, or was a pun involved? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Danjmi ( talk • contribs) 04:04, 28 May 2009 (UTC) reply

The references in this text need to be complemented by in-line citations, currently there are several turns of phrase, which, when not accompanied by proper citations indicate original research. Fenix down ( talk) 15:30, 27 October 2009 (UTC) reply

Hello! This is a note to let the editors of this article know that File:California island Vinckeboons5.jpg will be appearing as picture of the day on September 14, 2010. You can view and edit the POTD blurb at Template:POTD/2010-09-14. If this article needs any attention or maintenance, it would be preferable if that could be done before its appearance on the Main Page so Wikipedia doesn't look bad. :) Thanks! howcheng { chat} 21:46, 13 September 2010 (UTC) reply

Picture of the day

A c. 1650 map showing the Island of California, a long-held European misconception, dating from the 16th century, that California was not part of mainland North America but rather a large island separated from the continent by a strait now known instead as the Gulf of California. The belief persisted until the expeditions of Juan Bautista de Anza in 1774–76.Map: Johannes Vingboons; Restoration: Lise Broer

Archive – More featured pictures...

What about the allegedly secret voyage of Sir Francis Drake. If secret, then his discoveries were not shared with other non-British government cartographers. Reference the material in Francis Drake. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 159.121.204.129 ( talk) 17:48, 14 September 2010 (UTC) reply

Should we not include historical floods which actually may have turned california into a temporary island every few hundred years? This much is fact, but is not mentioned in the article:

/info/en/?search=California_flood_of_1605

This historic flood would match the time that Juan de Oñate made an expedition to the west coast in 1605, the very same year as the flood was reported to have occurred.

Something to think about. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Camdoodlebop ( talk • contribs) 07:03, 19 October 2020 (UTC) reply

• The article, California flood of 1605, does not say anything about part of California being turned into a temporary island. While it is possible the floods may have filled Lake Cahuilla, which may have in turn lead Oñate to believe the Gulf of California extended further north and west than it does today, it is doubtful that the flooding was severe enough to submerge the San Gorgonio Pass and form an island. To include the theory that the floods formed a temporary island, a reliable reference would be needed. OvertAnalyzer ( talk) 16:34, 19 October 2020 (UTC) reply

• Perhaps the ocean water overflowed the Santa Clara river and flooded the Mojave Desert, leading out towards the Salton Sea and draining into the Gulf of California, bypassing the San Gorgonio Pass while still cutting off part of California into an island. More research is needed — Preceding unsigned comment added by Camdoodlebop ( talk • contribs) 00:37, 21 October 2020 (UTC) reply

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 7 February 2023 and 24 March 2023. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Graham1118, Firefly200002 ( article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by Firefly200002 ( talk) 21:10, 12 March 2023 (UTC) reply