| Nickname: Culebrita | |
|---|---|
Culebrita lighthouse on top, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands on the horizon |
|
| Geography | |
| Location | Caribbean Sea |
| Archipelago | Puerto Rico Archipielago |
| Length | 1.7 km (1.06 mi) |
| Width | 1.5 km (0.93 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 185 m (607 ft) |
| Highest point | Lighthouse Hill |
| Country | |
|
United States
|
|
| Territory | Puerto Rico |
| Municipality | Culebra, Puerto Rico |
| Barrio/Ward | Fraile |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
| Density | 0 /km2 (0 /sq mi) |
| Additional information | |
|
Nature Reserve (Culebra National Wildlife Refuge) |
|
Isla Culebrita (little Culebra, little snake) is a small, uninhabited island off the eastern coast of Culebra, Puerto Rico and is part of the Puerto Rico Archipielago. Together with Cayo Botella off the northwestern point, and Pelá and Pelaita to the west, it belongs to the barrio Frailes of Culebra. It is a nature reserve and is part of the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge. The island is home to one of the oldest lighthouses in the Caribbean. Culebrita is only accessible by private boat from the main island of Culebra.
Contents |
Culebrita is a coral island approximately 1 mile in length. It is roughly y-shaped with three branches extending from the island's center.
There are six beaches on Culebrita, the chief one being Playa Tortuga (Turtle Beach) on the north side of the island. The beach is named for the many sea turtles that use the beach for breeding grounds and the surrounding waters for grazing. Sea turtles Tina and Ike call Playa Tortuga home. The other two large beaches are Trash Beach and West Beach. Beacause Trash Beach is located on the windward side of the island, debris is often blown onto this beach. This is how the beach gets its name. West Beach is where the water taxis from Culebra Island dock.[1]
There are also large tidal pools on the east side of the island where people lounge as if they were large baths. The pools trap small sea life at low tide. The west side of the island contains two lagoons. The Culebrita Reef lays off the southern coast of the island.
Isla Culebrita has two shallow lagoons, the largest of which, Laguna de Molino (Mill Lagoon), is located in northwest branch of the island. It covers approximately 5.5 acres and is about -3 feet below sea level. The second lagoon, referred to as the eastern tidal flat, is located near the middle of the island’s west coast and covers about 0.9 acres. Both lagoons are bordered on the seaward-side by a small mangrove fringe.[2] These wetlands are an important habitat for some of the local wildlife.
In 2006, an environmental and cultural resource survey of Culebrita was carried out by Southeastern Archaeological Research (SEARCH) of Jonesville, Florida and Ellis Environmental Group, LC, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Huntsville in order to identify “cultural resources, sensitive habitats, and endangered plants and animals that may exist” on Isla Culebrita. During the survey, a total of 97 plant species were recorded, none of which are state or federally threatened or endangered species. In addition, 32 birds, 4 reptiles, and 2 mammals were recorded. Of these animals, one federally endangered species, the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) and one threatened species, the white-cheeked pintail (Anas bahamensis) were observed. Endangered green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) were also observed on the island.[3]
Culebrita Lighthouse (Spanish: Faro Culebrita) is the only remaining Spanish-era structure in the Culebra archipelago. Construction of the 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 is the most eastern light outside mainland Puerto Rico. It guides navigation through the Virgin Passage and the Vieques Sound connecting in the Puerto Rico Light System with the Cape San Juan Light.
It was one of the oldest operating lighthouses 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 U.S. National Register of Historic Places on October 22, 1981; however, no work has been done to maintain the facility. In 1989, Hurricane Hugo caused extensive damage, and in 1995 the tower was destroyed by Hurricane Marilyn. The Culebra Foundation, starting in 1994, has tried to attract local and federal attention to save the lighthouse, but they have had little success. Presently, the lighthouse is in danger of collapsing.[4]