Isla de Lobos
Encyclopedia
The Isla de Lobos is a small island located about 8 kilometres (5 mi) southeast of Punta del Este
(Uruguay
). An islet lies east of the island.
, 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
.
in 1516 and named "San Sebastian de Cádiz", later in 1527 was visited by the Venetian navigator Sebastián Gaboto in his expedition to Rio 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.
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
.
s 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.
Punta del Este
Punta del Este is a resort town on the Atlantic Coast in the Maldonado Department of southeastern Uruguay. It is located on the intersection of Route 10 with Route 39, directly southeast of the department capital Maldonado and about east of Montevideo...
(Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
). An islet lies east of the island.
Geography
The island is an outcropping of rocks that is a continuation of the Cuchilla GrandeCuchilla Grande
Cuchilla Grande is a hill range that crosses the west part of Uruguay from north to south. It extends from the south part of Cerro Largo Department, through the departments of Treinta y Tres and Lavalleja and ends in Maldonado Department where it forms its highest peaks.-Noted features:In the...
, in an area of Atlantic Ocean immediately at the mouth (outer limit) of the estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
of Río de la Plata
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
. Administratively it belongs to the jurisdiction of the province of Maldonado
Maldonado
Maldonado may refer to:In places:*Maldonado, Uruguay, a city in the Maldonado Department of Uruguay*Maldonado Department of Uruguay*Pedro Vicente Maldonado, a canton of Ecuador*Puerto Maldonado, a city in Peru...
, although it constitutes a natural reserve. Somewhat to the northwest is the smaller Gorriti Island which is the second most southern place in Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
.
History
It was discovered by Spanish navigator Juan Díaz de SolísJuan Díaz de Solís
Juan Díaz de Solís was a Spanish navigator and explorer.Díaz de Solís was probably born in Lebrija, Seville, although some other authors argue that his birth may have actually taken place in Portugal to an Andalusian emigree family....
in 1516 and named "San Sebastian de Cádiz", later in 1527 was visited by the Venetian navigator Sebastián Gaboto in his expedition to Rio de la Plata
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
and Paraná
Paraná River
The Paraná River is a river in south Central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some . It is second in length only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language...
. 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.
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
Punta del Este
Punta del Este is a resort town on the Atlantic Coast in the Maldonado Department of southeastern Uruguay. It is located on the intersection of Route 10 with Route 39, directly southeast of the department capital Maldonado and about east of Montevideo...
.
Animals
Isla de Lobos is a nature reserve because it has the largest colony of sea lionSea Lion
Sea lions are pinnipeds characterized by external ear-flaps, long fore-flippers, the ability to walk on all fours, and short thick hair. Together with the fur seal, they comprise the family Otariidae, or eared seals. There are six extant and one extinct species in five genera...
s 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.
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, MontevideoMontevideoMontevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
1999. (In Spanish)