Lobos Island
Encyclopedia
Lobos Island
is a small island of the Canary Islands
(Spain
) located just 2 km north of the island of Fuerteventura
. Politically it belongs to the municipality of La Oliva
, on the island of Fuerteventura. It has an area of 4.6 km². It has been a nature reserve without permanent human population since 1982. The island is accessible to tourists via a short ferry
ride from Corralejo
, in Fuerteventura. It has day facilities and weekend homes of local fishermen. The local lighthouse
was automated in 1968.
In 1405, Lobos Island served as resupply base for Jean de Béthencourt's conquest of Fuerteventura.
(also called monk seals) that lived there. When it was discovered by Spanish conquerors in the Archipelago
, in the fifteenth century, the sea wolves were its only inhabitants, but with the arrival of man, these animals were hunted on a massive scale by sailors and fishermen who saw them as a source of food, fat and skin. Because of this hunting, the species eventually became extinct on the island and its presence now is only occasional.
, is a volcanic island. Its age is estimated between 6,000 and 8,000 years. The highest sector on the sea level is the mountain's Caldera
, that is 127 meters. Some areas of the island includes little lake. Poor rains create a skyline dry.
Likewise, birds are an important feature of the island: it has a great variety of seabirds that usually nest on cliffs and rocks. Among these species are the Shearwater Cinderella, Little Shearwater
and the herring gull. Also in residence are the storm petrel, Bulwer's Petrel
and Yellow-legged Gull
. In addition to birds a great diversity of Fish
can be spotted in its waters. Of these abound old Fish (Canarian fish), Barracuda
, Bream and Striped fish.
Because of its great ecological diversity the site has been identified as a protected zone, the Parque Natural del Islote de Lobos. It has also been declared a special protection area (SPA) for birds.
´s conquest of Fuerteventura. Until 1968 the only inhabitants of this island were the lighthouse keeper and his family, who had the responsibility of martino lighthouse, located north and reference point for this place, a place which, as noted, is free of stable human. On the island of wolves, the only permanent inhabitants are animals and trees. The island was one of the first natural areas of Canary Island designated as Natural park in 1982. Later the island was also designated an area of special protection of birds, where live many marine species and migratory birds.
Cabildo to camp in that island, for a maximum of three nights (in the place where allowed, "El carpintero" (the carpenter). The island is only visited regularly by tourists, curious fishermen or operators of small boats. To protect the charms of the island from human impact and to restrict visits to a limited number of people, the island is divided into several general use areas classified as moderate or restricted, marked with directional signs protecting the preservation areas.
is a small island of the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
(Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
) located just 2 km north of the island of Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura , a Spanish island, is one of the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. It is situated at 28°20' north, 14°00' west. At 1,660 km² it is the second largest of the Canary Islands, after Tenerife...
. Politically it belongs to the municipality of La Oliva
La Oliva
La Oliva is a Canarian municipality in the northern portion of the island of Fuerteventura in the Las Palmas province in the Canary Islands The population is 14,042 , its density is 39.43/km² and the area is 356.13 km². The municipality includes the small island of Los Lobos to the northeast...
, on the island of Fuerteventura. It has an area of 4.6 km². It has been a nature reserve without permanent human population since 1982. The island is accessible to tourists via a short ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
ride from Corralejo
Corralejo
The town and resort of Corralejo is located on the northern tip of Fuerteventura, one of the Canary Islands, facing the small islet of Lobos . It is placed in the municipality of La Oliva....
, in Fuerteventura. It has day facilities and weekend homes of local fishermen. The local lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
was automated in 1968.
In 1405, Lobos Island served as resupply base for Jean de Béthencourt's conquest of Fuerteventura.
Origin of name
Lobos Island (Wolves Island) was named for the large number of Sea wolvesMediterranean Monk Seal
The Mediterranean monk seal is a pinniped belonging to the Phocidae family. At some 450-510 remaining individuals, it is believed to be the world's second-rarest pinniped , and one of the most endangered mammals in the world.It is present in parts of the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic...
(also called monk seals) that lived there. When it was discovered by Spanish conquerors in the Archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
, in the fifteenth century, the sea wolves were its only inhabitants, but with the arrival of man, these animals were hunted on a massive scale by sailors and fishermen who saw them as a source of food, fat and skin. Because of this hunting, the species eventually became extinct on the island and its presence now is only occasional.
Geography
The Lobos Island, as well as the rest of the Canary IslandsCanary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
, is a volcanic island. Its age is estimated between 6,000 and 8,000 years. The highest sector on the sea level is the mountain's Caldera
Caldera
A caldera is a cauldron-like volcanic feature usually formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption, such as the one at Yellowstone National Park in the US. They are sometimes confused with volcanic craters...
, that is 127 meters. Some areas of the island includes little lake. Poor rains create a skyline dry.
Fauna and flora
Another feature of the Lobos island is that, despite being desert and volcanic, it has a large number of habitats: there are over 130 plant species, including the siempreviva - endemic island-, the Sea Uvilla, or White Caleton which is very attractive because of its shape and color.Likewise, birds are an important feature of the island: it has a great variety of seabirds that usually nest on cliffs and rocks. Among these species are the Shearwater Cinderella, Little Shearwater
Little Shearwater
The Little Shearwater is a small shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae.mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data indicates that the former North Atlantic Little Shearwater group is closer to Audubon's Shearwater , and myrtae being closer to the Newell's and possibly Townsend's Shearwater...
and the herring gull. Also in residence are the storm petrel, Bulwer's Petrel
Bulwer's Petrel
The Bulwer's Petrel is a small petrel in the family Procellariidae, and is one of two species in the genus Bulweria . This bird is named after the Scottish naturalist James Bulwer.- Description :...
and Yellow-legged Gull
Yellow-legged Gull
The Yellow-legged Gull , sometimes referred to as Western Yellow-legged Gull , is a large gull of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, which has only recently achieved wide recognition as a distinct species...
. In addition to birds a great diversity of Fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
can be spotted in its waters. Of these abound old Fish (Canarian fish), Barracuda
Barracuda
The barracuda is a ray-finned fish known for its large size and fearsome appearance. Its body is long, fairly compressed, and covered with small, smooth scales. Some species could reach up to 1.8m in length and 30 cm in width...
, Bream and Striped fish.
Because of its great ecological diversity the site has been identified as a protected zone, the Parque Natural del Islote de Lobos. It has also been declared a special protection area (SPA) for birds.
History
With regard to the historical aspects of the island, the island has always been almost entirely unpopulated. In 1405 Lobos Island served as resupply base for Jean de BéthencourtJean de Béthencourt
Jean de Béthencourt was a French explorer who, in 1402, led an expedition to the Canary Islands, landing first on the north side of Lanzarote...
´s conquest of Fuerteventura. Until 1968 the only inhabitants of this island were the lighthouse keeper and his family, who had the responsibility of martino lighthouse, located north and reference point for this place, a place which, as noted, is free of stable human. On the island of wolves, the only permanent inhabitants are animals and trees. The island was one of the first natural areas of Canary Island designated as Natural park in 1982. Later the island was also designated an area of special protection of birds, where live many marine species and migratory birds.
Tourism
The Tourist can ask for authorization from the environment office of FuerteventuraFuerteventura
Fuerteventura , a Spanish island, is one of the Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. It is situated at 28°20' north, 14°00' west. At 1,660 km² it is the second largest of the Canary Islands, after Tenerife...
Cabildo to camp in that island, for a maximum of three nights (in the place where allowed, "El carpintero" (the carpenter). The island is only visited regularly by tourists, curious fishermen or operators of small boats. To protect the charms of the island from human impact and to restrict visits to a limited number of people, the island is divided into several general use areas classified as moderate or restricted, marked with directional signs protecting the preservation areas.