Chira Island
Encyclopedia
Chira Island is a 3.000 hectare Costa Rican Pacific island located at the upper end of the Gulf of Nicoya
, an extensive inlet of sea water that is the result of a geological fault that has caused the land to submerge, leaving exposed only the tops of what were formerly low hills. These are the various islands that dot the gulf, the largest of which being the Island of Chira - Costa Rica's second largest island. The Gulf of Nicoya separates Guanacaste
from mainland Costa Rica
and is fed by the River Tempisque. Chira Island lies just off San Pablo
, Guanacaste.
Ecologically, Chira contains the most intact biodiversity of Tropical Dry Forest flora in Costa Rica, if not Central America.
Three villages make up the bulk of the population of Chira Island, locate along the Northern edge of the island, from the West end to the East end. The eastern end of the island is dominated by mangrove swamps.
Approximately 3,000 people live on the island and the main economic activity is fishing
, farming or work on the salt pans. These salt pans are popular with roseate spoonbills and other wading birds. Isla Chira is bisected by a large estuary to the east leading into a canal through vast mangrove swamps. There is only little accommodation on the island. From Puntarenas
a daily boat goes to Isla Chira from the fish market. Hire-boats might be available in Pájaros
or San Pablo
.
Due to the reliance on marine resources and alternative industries being limited in number, significant pressure has been put on the island's natural resources. Due to this, a project has been developed to establish a bank of pianguas (Anadara tuberculosa and Anadara similis), a kind of oyster
for artisan fishing
, in order to create a commercially viable resource for long term economic development. Additionally attempts have been made to encourage various activities related with tourism, primarily using the Island's natural and geographical resources, such as the mangrove
swamps and the Tempisque River
, as well as the local culture.
For more information about this Island go: *Chira Island
Gulf of Nicoya
The Gulf of Nicoya is an inlet of the Pacific Ocean. It separates the Nicoya Peninsula from the mainland of Costa Rica, and encompasses a marine and coastal landscape of wetlands, rocky islands and cliffs.-Islands:*Chira Island*Venado Island*Isla Caballo...
, an extensive inlet of sea water that is the result of a geological fault that has caused the land to submerge, leaving exposed only the tops of what were formerly low hills. These are the various islands that dot the gulf, the largest of which being the Island of Chira - Costa Rica's second largest island. The Gulf of Nicoya separates Guanacaste
Guanacaste Province
Guanacaste is a province of Costa Rica located in the northwestern part of the country, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. To the north it borders Nicaragua. To the east is the Alajuela Province, and to the southeast is the Puntarenas Province. It is the most sparsely populated of all the...
from mainland Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
and is fed by the River Tempisque. Chira Island lies just off San Pablo
San Pablo
-Geography:San Pablo is a common toponym in parts of the world where the Spanish language is or was spoken.Towns, cities, and counties called San Pablo:*Argentina**San Pablo , Catamarca Province...
, Guanacaste.
Ecologically, Chira contains the most intact biodiversity of Tropical Dry Forest flora in Costa Rica, if not Central America.
Three villages make up the bulk of the population of Chira Island, locate along the Northern edge of the island, from the West end to the East end. The eastern end of the island is dominated by mangrove swamps.
Approximately 3,000 people live on the island and the main economic activity is fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, farming or work on the salt pans. These salt pans are popular with roseate spoonbills and other wading birds. Isla Chira is bisected by a large estuary to the east leading into a canal through vast mangrove swamps. There is only little accommodation on the island. From Puntarenas
Puntarenas
Puntarenas is the capital and largest city in the province Puntarenas, Costa Rica, at the Pacific coast. The eponymous and oddly shaped province has its largest section in the South, far from the capital.Some 100,000 live in the city and close towns...
a daily boat goes to Isla Chira from the fish market. Hire-boats might be available in Pájaros
Pájaros
Pájaros is one of the 12 settlements in the District of Bayamón, Puerto Rico....
or San Pablo
San Pablo
-Geography:San Pablo is a common toponym in parts of the world where the Spanish language is or was spoken.Towns, cities, and counties called San Pablo:*Argentina**San Pablo , Catamarca Province...
.
Due to the reliance on marine resources and alternative industries being limited in number, significant pressure has been put on the island's natural resources. Due to this, a project has been developed to establish a bank of pianguas (Anadara tuberculosa and Anadara similis), a kind of oyster
Oyster
The word oyster is used as a common name for a number of distinct groups of bivalve molluscs which live in marine or brackish habitats. The valves are highly calcified....
for artisan fishing
Artisan fishing
Artisan fishing is a term used to describe small scale low-technology commercial or subsistence fishing practices. The term particularly applies to coastal or island ethnic groups using traditional techniques such as rod and tackle, arrows and harpoons, throw nets and drag nets, and traditional...
, in order to create a commercially viable resource for long term economic development. Additionally attempts have been made to encourage various activities related with tourism, primarily using the Island's natural and geographical resources, such as the mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
swamps and the Tempisque River
Tempisque River
The Tempisque River, or Rio Tempisque, is 144 km long, located entirely in Costa Rica flowing from the Guanacaste Cordillera near the Orosí Volcano and emptying into the Gulf of Nicoya...
, as well as the local culture.
For more information about this Island go: *Chira Island
External links
- Chira Island Facts
- NicoyaPeninsula.com - Islands in the Gulf.
- http://chiracr.com/ - Web page of the community of Isla Chira