Columbretes Islands
The Columbretes Islands ( Illes Columbrete Valencian ) are a Spanish archipelago which consists of four volcanic islands, which are grouped around the main islands Columbrete Grande, Ferrera, Forrada and Bergantín Carallot. In total there are around 25 individual islands and cliffs. They are located in the Mediterranean, 55 km east of the center of Castellón de la Plana, the capital of the province of Castellón, to which they belong.
The islands are a nature park under protection and cover an area of 19 hectares, of which 14 ha alone, the largest island, Grande Columbrete occupies. The highest point of the archipelago on the Columbrete Grande is 67 meters above the sea.
The name of the islands derives from Greek and Roman sailors who they held in their charts. Initially, they were given the names Ophiusa or Colubraria, due to the numerous snakes that you found there. For centuries, the islands served as the headquarters and refuge of pirates and smugglers. In the 19th century, liberated the islands with fire from the snakes and put on a lighthouse at the highest point, which was served to automation in 1975 by lighthouse keepers. For a time, the islands were uninhabited until 1988, the Government of the Autonomous Community of Valencia park ranger stopped when the islands were declared a nature park.
The islands are a popular dive site. However, one needs a permit to enter the islands, as they feature a unique worth protecting flora and fauna. Despite the classification as a nature park to fish in the waters around the islands is allowed.
Main islands and submarine banks ( u), grouped by island groups:
- Tranca Timones
- Mancolibre
- Senyoreta
- Mascarat
- La Ferrera
- Espinosa
- Bauza
- Valdés
- Navarrete
- Laja Navarrete
- El Ciscar (u )
- El Fidalgo (u )
- Piedra Joaquín
- La Horadada ( Foradada, Ferrer )
- Lobo
- Méndez Núñez
- Jorge Juan ( u)
- El Berg Antin ( Galiano )
- Cerquero
- Churruca
- Baleato
- Ulloa (u )
- Patiño (u )
- Luyando (u )
- Mendoza ( u)
- Díaz ( u)