Cozumel

Cozumel
Native name: <span class="nickname" ">Kùtz
Nickname: Cuzamil

Satellite image of Cozumel Island in 2001
Geography
Location Caribbean Sea
Coordinates 20°25′N 86°55′W / 20.417°N 86.917°WCoordinates: 20°25′N 86°55′W / 20.417°N 86.917°W
Total islands 2
Area 647.33 km2 (249.94 sq mi)
Highest point 14m
Country
Mexico
State Quintana Roo
Municipios (Municipality) Cozumel
Largest settlement San Miguel de Cozumel (pop. 77,236)
Presidente municipal (Municipal president) Juan Carlos González Hernández (PRI)
Demographics
Population 100,000 (as of 2011)
Density 154.5 /km2 (400.2 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups Maya
Additional information
Official website Government website
Time zone UTC −6
DST: UTC −5

Cozumel (Spanish pronunciation: [kosu'mel], Yucatec Maya: Kùutsmil, English: Island of the Swallows) is an island in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, opposite Playa del Carmen, and close to the Yucatán Channel. Cozumel is one of the ten municipalities (municipios) of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The economy of Cozumel is based on tourism. There are a number of visitors to the islands balnearios, scuba diving, and snorkeling. The main town on the island is San Miguel de Cozumel.

Etymology

The name Cozumel was derived from the Mayan "Cuzamil" or "Ah Cuzamil Peten" in full, which means the island of swallows (Spanish: Isla de las Golondrinas).[1][2]

Geography

The island is located in the Caribbean Sea along the eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula about 82 km (51 mi) south of Cancún and 19 km (12 mi) from the mainland. The island is about 48 km (30 mi) long and 16 km (9.9 mi) wide. With a total area of 477.961 km2 (184.542 sq mi), it is Mexico's largest Caribbean island, and Mexico's third-largest island, following Tiburón Island and Isla Ángel de la Guarda.

The majority of the population of island lives in the town of San Miguel (pop. 77,236 in 2010),[3] which is on the island's western shore. The municipality, which includes two small areas on the mainland enclaved within the Municipality of Solidaridad with a land area of 10.423 km2 (4.024 sq mi), has a total land area of 647.33 km2 (249.93 sq mi).[4]

Cozumel southeast coast
Landscape view of Cozumel

The island is covered with mangrove forest which has many endemic animal species. Cozumel is a flat island based on limestone, resulting in a karst topography. The highest natural point on the island is less than 15 m (49 ft) above sea level. The cenotes are deep water filled sinkholes formed by water percolating through the soft limestone soil during thousands of years. Cozumel's cenotes are restricted to qualified cave divers with appropriate credentials. In the early 1990s, a group of cave explorers here discovered the fifth-largest underwater cave in the world.

Fauna

Cozumel has a number of endemic species and subspecies of bird including:

Endemic dwarf mammals are found on the island:

There are three rodents that are larger than their mainland counterpart: Oryzomys couesi, Peromyscus leucopus, and critically endangered Reithrodontomys spectabilis, the latter of which is also endemic to the island.

Endemic marine life:

Other native wildlife includes:

Climate

Cozumel has tropical savanna climate under the Köppen climate classification that closely borders on a tropical monsoon climate.[9] The dry season is short, only occurring from February to April but even in these months, precipitation is observed, averaging about 45 millimetres (1.8 in) of rain per month. The wet season is lengthy, covering most of the months, with September and October being the wettest months, when precipitation averages over 240 millimetres (9.4 in). Thunderstorms can occasionally occur during the wet season.[10] Temperatures tend to remain stable with little variation from month to month though the temperatures are cooler from December to February with the coolest month averaging 22.9 °C (73.2 °F). Owing to its proximity to the sea, the island is fairly humid, with an average humidity of 83%.[10] The wettest recorded month was October 1980 with 792 millimetres (31.2 in) of precipitation and the wettest recorded day was June 19, 1975 with 281 millimetres (11.1 in).[10] Extremes range from 9.2 °C (48.6 °F) on January 18, 1977 to 39.2 °C (102.6 °F).[10]

Climate data for Cozumel (1951–1980)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 36.4
(97.5)		 36.0
(96.8)		 34.7
(94.5)		 39.0
(102.2)		 36.6
(97.9)		 36.4
(97.5)		 39.2
(102.6)		 36.8
(98.2)		 36.6
(97.9)		 36.1
(97)		 35.2
(95.4)		 32.6
(90.7)		 39.2
(102.6)
Average high °C (°F) 28.6
(83.5)		 29.1
(84.4)		 30.9
(87.6)		 32.0
(89.6)		 32.7
(90.9)		 32.4
(90.3)		 32.6
(90.7)		 33.0
(91.4)		 31.9
(89.4)		 30.7
(87.3)		 29.7
(85.5)		 28.6
(83.5)		 31.0
(87.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 22.9
(73.2)		 23.2
(73.8)		 24.7
(76.5)		 26.0
(78.8)		 26.9
(80.4)		 27.2
(81)		 27.2
(81)		 27.2
(81)		 26.7
(80.1)		 25.9
(78.6)		 24.8
(76.6)		 23.4
(74.1)		 25.5
(77.9)
Average low °C (°F) 19.4
(66.9)		 19.4
(66.9)		 20.7
(69.3)		 21.8
(71.2)		 22.9
(73.2)		 23.8
(74.8)		 23.5
(74.3)		 23.5
(74.3)		 23.6
(74.5)		 23.1
(73.6)		 21.7
(71.1)		 20.3
(68.5)		 22.0
(71.6)
Record low °C (°F) 9.2
(48.6)		 9.7
(49.5)		 11.4
(52.5)		 14.6
(58.3)		 15.2
(59.4)		 18.8
(65.8)		 17.0
(62.6)		 20.8
(69.4)		 20.8
(69.4)		 17.0
(62.6)		 11.2
(52.2)		 12.7
(54.9)		 9.2
(48.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 81.4
(3.205)		 60.0
(2.362)		 32.2
(1.268)		 44.8
(1.764)		 110.6
(4.354)		 191.7
(7.547)		 115.5
(4.547)		 141.7
(5.579)		 240.2
(9.457)		 242.5
(9.547)		 122.5
(4.823)		 106.8
(4.205)		 1,489.9
(58.657)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) 8.66 6.46 4.03 3.73 7.20 12.63 11.83 13.37 15.43 15.70 11.06 9.76 119.86
Average relative humidity (%) 82 81 79 79 80 84 84 84 87 85 83 83 83
Mean monthly sunshine hours 198.0 192.3 232.0 257.0 231.9 206.5 220.1 221.7 181.5 193.7 183.9 192.2 2,510.8
Source: Colegio de Postgraduados[10]

History

Maya ruins of San Gervasio

The Maya are believed to have first settled Cozumel by the early part of the 1st millennium AD, and older Preclassic Olmec artifacts have been found on the island as well. The island was sacred to Ix Chel, the Maya Moon Goddess, and the temples here were a place of pilgrimage, especially by women desiring fertility.[11] There are a number of ruins on the island, most from the Post-Classic period. The largest Maya ruins on the island were near the downtown area and have now been destroyed.[12] Today, the largest remaining ruins are at San Gervasio, located approximately at the center of the island.

Chan Santa Cruz Monument in Cozumel

The first Spanish expedition to visit Cozumel was led by Juan de Grijalva in 1518.[13]:28 In the following year Hernán Cortés stopped by the island on his way to Veracruz.[13]:57 The Grijalva and Cortés expeditions were both received peacefully by the Maya of Cozumel, unlike the expeditions’ experiences on other parts of the mainland. Even after Cortés destroyed some of the Maya idols on Cozumel and replaced them with an image of the Virgin Mary, the native inhabitants of the island continued to help the Spanish re-supply their ships with food and water so they could continue their voyages. Gerónimo de Aguilar was rescued at this time.[13]:60–64

Cozumel on the Paris Gilt Globe, c.1528.

As many as 10,000 Maya lived on the island then, but in 1520, infected crew members of the Pánfilo Narváez expedition brought the smallpox contagion to the island and by 1570 only 186 men and 172 women were left alive on Cozumel. In the ensuing years Cozumel was often the target of attacks by pirates, and in 1650 many of the islanders were forcibly relocated to the mainland town of Xcan Boloná to avoid the buccaneers’ predation. Later, in 1688, most of the rest of the island’s population, as well as many of the settlements along the Quintana Roo coast, were evacuated inland to towns such as Chemax.

San Miguel Church

In 1848, refugees escaping the tumult of the Caste War of Yucatán settled on the island and in 1849 the town of San Miguel de Cozumel was officially recognized by the Mexican government.[14]

In 1861, American President Abraham Lincoln ordered his Secretary of State, William Henry Seward, to meet with the Mexican charge d’affaires Matias Romero to explore the possibility of purchasing the island of Cozumel for the purpose of relocating freed American slaves offshore. The idea was summarily dismissed by Mexican President Benito Juarez, but in 1862 Lincoln did manage to establish a short-lived colony of ex-slaves on Île à Vache off the coast of Haiti.

Cruise Port in San Miguel de Cozumel.

Although the original airport was a World War II relic and was able to handle jet aircraft and international flights, a much larger airport was built in the late 1970s.

Scuba diving is still one of Cozumel's primary attractions, mainly due to the healthy coral reef marine communities. These coral reefs are protected from the open ocean by the island's natural geography. In 1996, the government of Mexico also established the Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park, forbidding anyone from touching or removing any marine life within the park boundaries.[15] Despite the importance of healthy reefs to Cozumel's tourist trade, a deepwater pier was built in the 1990s for cruise ships to dock, causing damage to the reefs, and it is now a regular stop on cruises in the Caribbean.

Cozumel seen through the eye of Hurricane Wilma

The island was struck directly by two Category 5 hurricanes during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. First to arrive was Hurricane Emily in July. Despite Emily being a powerful storm, it was the slower moving Hurricane Wilma that caused the most destruction when it hit the island in October.[16]

There was some damage to the underwater marine habitat. This included the coral reefs, which suffered particularly at the shallower dive sites, and the fish that inhabit the reefs.[17][18]

Economy

Small bars and restaurants along the east coast of the island.

Tourism, diving and charter fishing comprise the majority of the island’s economy. There are more than 300 restaurants on the island and many hotels, some of which run dive operations, have swimming pools, private docks, and multiple dining facilities.

Other water activities include para-sailing, kitesurfing, and a tourist submarine. There are also two dolphinariums. At the cruise ship docks there are several square blocks of stores selling Cuban cigars, jewellery, T-shirts, tequila, and a large variety of inexpensive souvenirs. There are many restaurants in San Miguel that have a huge variety of different cuisines. In downtown Cozumel there are several discothèques, bars, cinemas, stages and restaurants. The main plaza includes; seasonal vendors, Mayan fire shows and a fixed stage where Cozumelenians and tourists celebrate the Sunday evening with a dance into the night.

All food and manufactured supplies are shipped to the island. Water is provided by three different desalination facilities located on the island.

Education

There are two universities on the island: the University of Quintana Roo and Partenon. In addition to teaching English as a degree, they offer five other career options including natural resources research, tourism and commercial systems.

Government

Cozumel is part of the State of Quintana Roo (Q-Roo). The Municipality of Cozumel consists of the island of Cozumel (with its offshore islets) and two pieces of adjacent mainland surrounded by the Municipality of Solidaridad. They are Calica and the Xel-Há Water Park. During the 2010 census there were 122 populated localities and 86 unpopulated localities enumerated.

In the July 7, 2013 municipal elections Fredy Marrufo Martín was voted the new Cozumel municipal president (mayor) for the 2013-2016 term and on July 14, 2013 officially became "president-elect".[19]

Towns and villages

San Miguel de Cozumel view from cruise ship port.

The largest localities (cities, towns, and villages) are:[3]

Name 2010 Census population
San Miguel de Cozumel 77,236
Las Fincas 746
Kilómetro Cuatro y Medio 411
La Estrella 154
San Lorenzo 134
La Esperanza 115
Huerto Familiar 104
Villa Cozumel 75
Las Palmeras 72
Iberostar 52
Dos Arbolitos 44
San Carlos 34
Total Municipality 79,535

Culture

The Festival of El Cedral is a festival held in the town of El Cedral, in the south of Cozumel Island at the end of April. This annual event is said to have been started over 150 years ago by Casimiro Cárdenas. Cárdenas was one of a group that fled to the island from the village of Saban, on the mainland, after an attack during the Caste War of Yucatán. The attackers killed other villagers, but Cárdenas survived whilst clutching a small wooden cross.

Legend has it that Cárdenas vowed to start an annual festival wherever he settled, to honor the religious power of this crucifix. Today, the original Holy Cross Festival forms part of the wider Festival of El Cedral, which includes fairs, traditional feasts, rodeos, bullfights, music and competitions. The celebrations last about 5 days in all and are held every year at the end of April or beginning of May.

The Cozumel Carnival or Carnaval de Cozumel has been celebrated as a tradition beginning from the late nineteenth century that fills Cozumel’s streets with parades. It begins the week before Mardi-Gras in February.

References

  1. ↑ "Cozumel". Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México (in Spanish). Secretaría de Gobernación. Archived from the original on June 12, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2013.
  2. ↑ Holt, Patricia A. (2005). Cozumel : the complete guide. New York: iUniverse. pp. ix. ISBN 978-0-595-36995-9.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "2010 census tables: INEGI". Mapserver.inegi.org.mx. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Land area of islands in Mexico: INEGI". Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2009.
  5. ↑ "Cozumel Fox" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Coatis, Pisotes, or Coatimundis" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  7. ↑ K. McFadden, D. Vasco, A. Cuaron, D. Valenzuela and M. Gompper. 2009. Conservation and population assessment of the endangered dwarf carnivores from Cozumel Island. Biodiversity and Conservation 13:317–331
  8. ↑ "Cozumel Pygmy Raccoon" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  9. ↑ Kottek, M.; Grieser, J. R.; Beck, C.; Rudolf, B.; Rubel, F. (2006). "World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated" (PDF). Meteorol. Z. 15 (3): 259–263. doi:10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 "Normales climatológicas para Cozumel, Q. ROO" (in Spanish). Colegio de Postgraduados. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
  11. ↑ Paxton, Merideth (2001). The Cosmos of the Yucatec Maya: Cycles and Steps from the Madrid Codex. University of New Mexico Press. p. 153. ISBN 978-0826322920.
  12. ↑ Hajovsky, Ric, 2011, Bases, Bulldozers and Bullshit, Retrieved June 29, 2012
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Diaz, B., 1963, The Conquest of New Spain, London: Penguin Books, ISBN 0140441239
  14. ↑ Hajovsky, Ric The Yellow Guide to the Mayan Ruins of San Gervasio, Cozumel, Amazon Books, 2012, p. 8-10
  15. ↑ Laskowski, Gloriana (July 1, 1999). "Cozumel An Island Paradise - 'Vistas De Cozumel'". Mexconnect.com. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Hurricane Wilma: The areas affected". BBC News. October 25, 2005. Retrieved July 24, 2005.
  17. ↑ "Species Richness and Community Structure of the Yucatan Marine Reserve Before and After 2005 Hurricane Season". Cmbc.ucsd.edu. Archived from the original on October 30, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  18. ↑ Calvin (March 6, 2007). "Cozumel Reef Conditions Update – 2007". Calvintang.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Recibe Fredy constancia de presidente municipal electo". Retrieved August 12, 2013.

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