Cerralvo Island
Encyclopedia
Jacques Cousteau Island is the official name recently applied to an uninhabited island
, (historically known as "Cerralvo Island" or "Isla Cerralvo" in Spanish), located off the coast of the Cerralvo Channel near the city of La Paz
in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur
.
It is eighteen miles long with a land area of 136.498 km² (52.702 sq mi), and is the ninth-largest island in Mexico. It is part of the Municipality of La Paz
. The peak of the island comes to 2100 ft (640.1 m) and the ridgline runs north-south with many small streams draining east to the Sea of Cortez and west to the Cupalo Channel. There are many steep bluffs on the eastern sides and many sandy beaches and points on the west side.
There is abundant marine life surrounding this island due to the underwater topography and ocean currents. Virtually all local marine life must migrate past the island and water visibility goes up to thirty meters making it a prime location for big game fishing. There are abundant Golden Grouper, Broadbill Swordfish, Marlin, Sailfish, and other game fish in the waters of Cerralvo Channel. The views from the island at dawn and sunset are very lively and filled with color.
who had led many expeditions in this area.
This change of name has generated annoyance and a growing resistance amongst the citizens of the nearby shores, in the state of Baja California Sur, who were not consulted; they insist on keeping the name "Isla Cerralvo". This resistance is also supported by many people in other Mexican regions.
Mexican Senators Luis Alberto Coppola Joffroy, Sebastian Calderón Centeno y Humberto Andrade Quezada, from PAN (Partido Accion Nacional) initiated a resolution to request different Mexican authorities to inform the decree where change of name was adopted.
Also senator Francisco Javier Obregón Espinoza has introduced a resolution in the Mexican Congress requesting the name change be reversed. Leading Mexican intellectuals such as Miguel León-Portilla (a former UNESCO director) have also voiced opposition to the name change.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
, (historically known as "Cerralvo Island" or "Isla Cerralvo" in Spanish), located off the coast of the Cerralvo Channel near the city of La Paz
La Paz, Baja California Sur
La Paz is the capital city of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur and an important regional commercial center. The city had a 2010 census population of 215,178 persons, but its metropolitan population is somewhat larger because of surrounding towns like el Centenario, el Zacatal and San Pedro...
in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
.
It is eighteen miles long with a land area of 136.498 km² (52.702 sq mi), and is the ninth-largest island in Mexico. It is part of the Municipality of La Paz
La Paz (municipality)
La Paz is a municipality of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. Its area of 20,275 km² makes it the municipality in Mexico with the fourth-largest area. It had a population of 251,871 inhabitants in the 2010 census...
. The peak of the island comes to 2100 ft (640.1 m) and the ridgline runs north-south with many small streams draining east to the Sea of Cortez and west to the Cupalo Channel. There are many steep bluffs on the eastern sides and many sandy beaches and points on the west side.
There is abundant marine life surrounding this island due to the underwater topography and ocean currents. Virtually all local marine life must migrate past the island and water visibility goes up to thirty meters making it a prime location for big game fishing. There are abundant Golden Grouper, Broadbill Swordfish, Marlin, Sailfish, and other game fish in the waters of Cerralvo Channel. The views from the island at dawn and sunset are very lively and filled with color.
Recent change of official name.
In November 2009, the Mexican government changed the name of this island from the historical name of "Isla Cerralvo" to "Jacques Cousteau Island" in honor of the French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau (1910–1997)who had led many expeditions in this area.
This change of name has generated annoyance and a growing resistance amongst the citizens of the nearby shores, in the state of Baja California Sur, who were not consulted; they insist on keeping the name "Isla Cerralvo". This resistance is also supported by many people in other Mexican regions.
Mexican Senators Luis Alberto Coppola Joffroy, Sebastian Calderón Centeno y Humberto Andrade Quezada, from PAN (Partido Accion Nacional) initiated a resolution to request different Mexican authorities to inform the decree where change of name was adopted.
Also senator Francisco Javier Obregón Espinoza has introduced a resolution in the Mexican Congress requesting the name change be reversed. Leading Mexican intellectuals such as Miguel León-Portilla (a former UNESCO director) have also voiced opposition to the name change.