Isla Mujeres

Template: Infobox Island / Maintenance / height missing

The Isla Mujeres ( German " Island of Women " ), is an island on the Mexican Caribbean coast in the state of Quintana Roo. The Isla Mujeres is located about 13 kilometers north of the resort of Cancun. It has a population of 11,147 ( 2005). Main source of income is tourism. The island has an area of ​​about 7 km long and 650 meters wide, with an area of 4.2 km ². The west coast is since 1996 part of the National Park Costa Occidental de Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancún y Punta Wet n 'Wild.

History

The island has been used since 550 BC by the Maya. At this time the island was, however, not permanently settled, but to her there was a sanctuary dedicated to the Mayan goddess Ixchel.

The Spanish conquistador Francisco Hernández de Córdoba discovered the island in March 1517.

During the war, the case in 1850, the island was captured by rebel Maya.

Infrastructure

With the mainland, the island is connected via high-speed ferry, departing from Puerto Juarez.

Culture

Art

Jason Taylor deCaires has installed several underwater sculptures off the coast of the island. These should be developed as artificial reefs also an attraction for divers.

Twinning

• Mar del Plata, Argentina