Santa Clara Island (San Sebastian)

Santa clara

Santa Clara Island (Spanish: Isla de Santa Clara; Basque: Santa Klara uhartea) is located in San Sebastian, Spain, in the middle of the bay of Donosti. It is located between the two most importants mountains of the city, Urgull and Igueldo.

It measures 400 meters across, and rises to a height of 48 meters, with steep sides. It is difficult to walk to because of the rocks.

The island has a small beach which only appears with low tide. There is a small bar and a small port. Despite the small size of the island, the beach has a lifeguard service because a lot of people go to the island in summer. The port of Santa Clara is connected by ferry, running every 30 minutes, with Donostia.

The island has an uninhabited lighthouse.

Santa Klaras lighthouse.

Wildlife and plants

The island supports a range of exotic species including:

Animals include the Iberian Wall Lizard (Podarcis hispanica sebastiani as well as gulls, the European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) and the Common Guillemot (Uria aalge) .

History

At the end of the 16th century, the people of Donostia (San Sebastián) who were infected by the plague were transferred to the island to prevent the spread of infection. The island of Santa Clara is state property, transferred by the state to the commune of San Sebastian under the Decree of October 31, 1968.

Curiosities

The music group La Oreja de Van Gogh mentions the island in one of its songs, "Inmortal".

References

    External links

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Santa Klara Island.

    Coordinates: 43°19′17″N 1°59′56″W / 43.3214°N 1.9989°W