Revillagigedo Islands

The Revillagigedo Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. He is politically part of the municipality of Manzanillo on the Mexican state of Colima.

The archipelago is located approximately 400 kilometers southwest of the Baja California peninsula and extends over a length of 420 km. It has a land area of ​​157 km ² and consists of the four islands below from east to west:

• San Benedicto, 4.8 × 2.4 km, Surface area 5,9 km ², altitude 297 m ( Barcena )
• Socorro (Santo Tomás ), 16.8 × 15.6 km, area 132.1 km ², altitude 1130 m ( Mount Evermann )
• Roca Partida, 91 × 45 m area, 0.3 ha (0.003 km ²), height 34 m ( north-west summit)
• Clarion ( Santa Rosa), 8.5 × 3.7 km, area 19.8 km ², altitude 335 m ( Monte Gallegos )

The islands are uninhabited, except for a naval base with a crew of 45 people in the south of Socorro Island and a small garrison with nine men on Clarion. Is named the archipelago after Juan Vicente de Güemes Pacheco y Padilla, Conde de Revillagigedo II, the 53rd viceroy of New Spain.

Ecology

The islands are characterized by a unique fauna and flora and are sometimes called Mexico's " little Galapagos ". Socorro is the richest in terms of habitat diversity and also in terms of flora and fauna. The Mexican government placed the islands as a Biosphere Reserve on June 4th, 1994 under protection. The Revillagigedo Iceland Marine Reserve is a marine sanctuary. Since 1999, the Mexican Navy monitors the protected areas in order to control the fishing ban. The islands are a popular destination for eco - tourists.

The unique world of the islands is threatened by introduced species. Sheep were introduced in Socorro in 1869. Even cats and pigs were brought to the islands by marine relatives. Various species are now threatened with extinction.