Culebrita
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Isla Culebrita (little Culebra, little snake) is a small island off the eastern coast of Culebra, Puerto Rico at and is part of the Culebra archipelago. Together with Cayo Botella off the northwestern point, it belongs to the barrio Frailes of Culebra. It is a nature reserve and home of one of the oldest lighthouse in the Caribbean. The island is only accessible by private boat from the main island of Culebra.
[edit] Lighthouse
Construction of the Culebrita Lighthouse began on September 25, 1882, and it was completed on February 25, 1886. The Spanish Crown built the lighthouse to help secure its claim over the main island of Culebra.
It was the oldest operating lighthouse in the Caribbean until 1975 when the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard finally closed the facility. The United States Coast Guard has replaced the lighthouse with a solar powered light beacon.
The Culebrita Lighthouse was registered on the National Register of Historical Monuments of the United States on October 22, 1981. However, no work has been done to maintain the facility. In 1989, Hurricane Hugo caused extensive damage, and the tower was destroyed by Hurricane Marilyn in 1995. The Culebra Foundation, starting in 1994, has tried to attract local and federal attention to save the lighthouse, but they have had little success.
The lighthouse has also been the victim of vandalism as people have chipped off pieces of the building as souvenirs.
[edit] Geography
Culebrita is a coral island approximately 1 mile in length. Tidal pools trap small sea life at low tide.
There are six beaches on Culebrita, the chief being Playa Tortuga (Turtle Beach). The beach is named for the many sea turtles that use the beach for breeding grounds and the surrounding waters for grazing. The other two large beachs are Trash Beach and West Beach. Trash Beach is on the windward side of the island and debris is often blown onto the beach. There are also large tidal pools on the east side of the island where people lounge as if they were large baths.
The Culebrita Reef lays off the southern coast of the island.
