Isla de Lobos
 North side of the island. | |
 | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | 35°03′01″S 54°52′27″W / 35.05028°S 54.87417°W |
| Total islands | 2 |
| Area | 0.435 km2 (0.168 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 26 m (85 ft) |
| Country | |
| Department | Maldonado |
| Part of | Coastal Islands National Park |
| Administered by | Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries |
The Isla de Lobos is a small island located about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) southeast of Punta del Este (Uruguay). An islet lies east of the island.
Geography
The island is an outcropping of rocks that is a continuation of the Cuchilla Grande, in an area of Atlantic Ocean immediately at the mouth (outer limit) of the estuary of Río de la Plata. Administratively it belongs to the jurisdiction of the province of Maldonado, although it constitutes a natural reserve. Somewhat to the northwest is the smaller Gorriti Island which is the second most southern place in Uruguay.
History
It was discovered by Spanish navigator Juan Díaz de Solís in 1516 and named "San Sebastian de Cádiz", later in 1527 was visited by the Venetian navigator Sebastián Cabot in his expedition to Río de la Plata and Paraná. In 1528 Diego Garcia Moguer sailed for the region and named the "Island of the Snapper." In 1599 the island was visited by Laurens Bicker.[1]
In 1858 the Uruguayan government erected a lighthouse on the island, and rebuilt in 1907. With its height of 59 meters above sea level it is one of the highest lighthouses in the world. From the balcony outside, which is accessed upon authorization by 240 steps there is a wonderful panoramic view of the island and the coast of Punta del Este.
Animals
Isla de Lobos is a nature reserve because it has the largest colony of sea lions in the western hemisphere: in 2001 there were 180,000 sea lions of the species called "two hairs" and 6,500 of the species known as the "wig".
It is part of the "Coastal Islands National Park" administered by the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries.
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Literature
- Enrique Páez, A. de Bonis: 1999. Impacto en cachorros de lobo fino sudamericano durante el derrame de petróleo en Isla de Lobos., Editorial: Jornadas de Zoología del Uruguay, Montevideo 1999. (In Spanish)
References
External links
- Isla de Lobos (Spanish)
- Sea lions island of Uruguay (Spanish)
- Tours to Sea lions island (English)