Gorgona Island, Colombia

Gorgona is an uninhabited island about 28 km from the mainland Colombia to Punta Reyes away in the Pacific Ocean. Administratively it belongs to the Colombian Departamento de Cauca and in the municipality ( municipio ) Guapi.

Geography

Gorgona has a length of about 9 km, a width of up to 2.5 km and has an area of ​​about 24 km ². The island achieved in the Cerro La Trinidad a height of 338 meters above the sea. The average temperature is 29 degrees Celsius. The months with the highest rainfall are September and October.

In the southwest of the much smaller neighboring island Gorgonilla is preceded, separated by approximately 400 meters wide strait Paso de Tasca.

History

They received the name of Francisco Pizarro, on his way to Peru in 1527 came to them, but even regarded as a link between Central America and Peru in pre-Columbian times. On the island many snakes that are still research goal live. There are many fresh water streams. The name of Gorgona refers to the Gorgons, who wore a hair in Greek mythology snakes. Later it became a base for pirates. Simón Bolívar gave the island Frederick D' Croz ( Federico D' Croz ) in gratitude for the contributions to the independence of Colombia, in 1959 it was purchased by the state in Colombia, to turn it into a prison island with up to 2500 prisoners, 1984, she became a national park explained. In August and September drag the humpback whales pass the island. The islands are now a popular destination for ecotourism implemented through the Colombian National Park Authority UAESPNN.