Cozumel

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Cozumel
The island seen from space
The island seen from space
Waters Yucatan Street
Geographical location 20 ° 27 ′  N , 86 ° 54 ′  W Coordinates: 20 ° 27 ′  N , 86 ° 54 ′  W
Cozumel (Quintana Roo)
Cozumel
length 45.3 km
width 16.6 km
surface 477.85 km²
Residents approximately 79,000 (2010)
165 inhabitants / km²
main place San Miguel de Cozumel
The Mayan ruins in El Cedral
The Mayan ruins in El Cedral

Cozumel
Climate diagram
J F. M. A. M. J J A. S. O N D.
 
 
81
 
29
19th
 
 
60
 
29
19th
 
 
32
 
31
21st
 
 
45
 
32
22nd
 
 
111
 
33
23
 
 
192
 
32
24
 
 
116
 
33
24
 
 
142
 
33
24
 
 
240
 
32
24
 
 
243
 
31
23
 
 
123
 
30th
22nd
 
 
107
 
29
20th
Temperature in ° C ,  precipitation in mm
Source: CONAGUA
Average monthly temperatures and rainfall for Cozumel
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Max. Temperature ( ° C ) 28.6 29.1 30.9 32.0 32.7 32.4 32.6 33.0 31.9 30.7 29.7 28.6 O 31
Min. Temperature (° C) 19.4 19.4 20.7 21.8 22.9 23.8 23.5 23.5 23.6 23.1 21.7 20.3 O 22nd
Precipitation ( mm ) 81.4 60.0 32.2 44.8 110.6 191.7 115.5 141.7 240.2 242.5 122.5 106.8 Σ 1,489.9
Rainy days ( d ) 8.7 6.5 4.0 3.7 7.2 12.6 11.8 13.4 15.4 15.7 11.1 9.8 Σ 119.9
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
28.6
19.4
29.1
19.4
30.9
20.7
32.0
21.8
32.7
22.9
32.4
23.8
32.6
23.5
33.0
23.5
31.9
23.6
30.7
23.1
29.7
21.7
28.6
20.3
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
N
i
e
d
e
r
s
c
h
l
a
g 		81.4
60.0
32.2
44.8
110.6
191.7
115.5
141.7
240.2
242.5
122.5
106.8
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Source: CONAGUA

Cozumel ( Mayathan : Kusamil "Schwalbenort" of Kusam "swallow" and il "place") is one of the eastern coast of the Mexican peninsula of Yucatán offshore island . It belongs to the Mexican state of Quintana Roo and forms the main part of the Municipio Cozumel .

The island, which is flat and has dense vegetation, has a maximum north-south extension of 45.3 km and a maximum east-west extension of 16.6 km. With an area of ​​477.85 km² Cozumel is the third largest island in Mexico after Isla Tiburón and Isla Ángel de la Guarda . In terms of population, it is only surpassed by the Isla del Carmen (see the list of Mexican islands ). It is 15.8 km from the mainland and about 60 km south of Cancún . The island capital is San Miguel de Cozumel (officially Cozumel , 77,236 inhabitants in 2010), where almost the entire population of Cozumel lives.

history

It is no longer possible to say exactly who the first settlers on Cozumel were. The Maya left verifiable traces long before the Spanish conquest. The island was an economic and religious center of the region as early as 1000 AD. It was sacred to the Maya and consecrated to the moon and fertility goddess Ixchel . The temples attracted pilgrims , especially women who wanted children. According to Maya legends, the islanders built temples for the goddess Ixchel - as the earth and moon goddess, she was the patroness of water, the rainbow and pregnant women. Thereupon the goddess sent the swallow, her favorite bird, to the island as a gesture of gratitude. That is why the island now bears the name "Island of the Swallows" (Isla de las golondrinas) .

The first Spanish explorer was the conquistador Juan de Grijalva . He landed on Cozumel in 1518 and named the island " Isla de Santa Cruz ". For Hernán Cortés it was the first stop in 1519 on his campaign of conquest against the Aztec Empire . On this island he met his later interpreter Gerónimo de Aguilar . He was stranded in a shipwreck on the Yucatán, had learned the Mayan language and joined the Hernán Cortés expedition.

About 40,000 Maya lived on the island at the time. They were later almost completely wiped out by the smallpox introduced by the Spaniards .

There are several ruins on the island. The largest Mayan ruins on the island were blown up and leveled to build a runway for aircraft during World War II . The ruins of San Gervasio in the center of the island are the largest surviving Mayan ruins.

Cozumel as seen from space through the eye of Hurricane Wilma .

In 2005, Cozumel was hit directly by hurricanes twice . On July 18, Hurricane Emily hit land here, as did Hurricane Wilma on October 21 .

tourism

Cozumel is a popular tourist destination and is particularly known for its good diving opportunities . Jacques Cousteau popularized the island with reports of extensive coral reefs ideal for diving in the 1960s. Since the construction of an airport in the late 1970s and several piers in the 1990s, tourism has increased significantly. The strongly increased cruise tourism from the USA is one of the mainstays of the tourism industry today.

sport and freetime

Ironman Mexico has been held in Cozumel every November since 2009 . In this triathlon over the Ironman distance, the athletes have to swim 3.86 km, cycle 180.2 km, and run 42.195 km.

Wildlife

Cozumel is home to the Nelson coati or Cozumel coati : a coati that has evolved significantly smaller as a result of the island's dwarfing . Another endemic species is the Cozumel raccoon .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Berthold Riese : The Maya. History - culture - religion . CH Beck, Munich 1995. p. 139.
  2. ↑ Javier Abelardo Gómez Navarrete (2004): Maaya t'aan ka'a p'éel. Método para el aprendizaje de la Lengua Maya. Segundo Curso . Universidad de Quintana Roo, Chetumal 2004. p. 12.
  3. ^ Catálogo de Localidades
  4. ^ Felix Hinz, Xavier López Medellín: In the footsteps of the conquest of Mexico ( Memento of December 5, 2008 in the Internet Archive ).
  5. ↑ Jerónimo de Aguilar y Gonzálo Guerrero: dos actitudes frente a la historia. México Desconocido, June 29, 2010 (Spanish).
  6. ^ A New Ironman Is Announced

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