Holbox

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Holbox
Holbox Island (June 2008)
Holbox Island (June 2008)
Waters Yucatán Street
Geographical location 21 ° 32 ′  N , 87 ° 13 ′  W Coordinates: 21 ° 32 ′  N , 87 ° 13 ′  W
Holbox (Quintana Roo)
Holbox
length 42 km
width 2 km
surface 55.948 km²
Residents 1486 (2010)
27 inhabitants / km²
main place Holbox
Holbox Beach
Holbox Beach

Holbox ( Spanish : Isla Holbox ; spoken: Hol-bosh) is an island off the Mexican peninsula of Yucatán .

geography

The island of Holbox, which consists only of sand, is located on the north coast of the Yucatán peninsula in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo . It is located on the Yucatán Strait , which connects the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea , and extends over a length of 42 km and a width of about 2 km. In the north there is a 34 km long pristine sandy beach. It is separated from the southern mainland by the shallow Yalahao lagoon , which is populated by flamingos and pelicans . Holbox is part of the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas and the Yum Balam Biosphere Reserve. The only place on the island is the fishing village of the same name, Holbox.

history

The island was settled by the Maya , who also gave it its name. Holbox comes from the Mayan language and means "black hole" . The name comes from the dark water in the Yalahao lagoon caused by mangrove areas . In 1856, Spaniards settled on Holbox and founded a place that was destroyed by a hurricane and killed around 100 people. The village of Holbox was finally re-established on the highest point of the island. The Yalahao lagoon served as a hideout for the pirate Francisco de Molas for 40 years in the 16th century .

Economy and tourism

The Holboxeños, as the people of Holbox are called, still live mainly from fishing. However, tourism is becoming increasingly important. The observation of the whale sharks , the largest fish in the world, which can be found in Holbox between May and September each year , has also contributed to this . To learn kitesurfing , Holbox is suitable for beginners because of the shallow water, favorable wind conditions during the winter months and two surf schools. Even advanced surfers will find suitable surfing conditions due to the sometimes strong north wind with more than 25 knots .

The island is connected to the city of Chiquila on the mainland by a ferry . Since tourists have to park their cars in a guarded parking lot here, there are practically no cars on the island of Holbox. The tourists are transported to their accommodations with golf carts and mopeds . The small air line Aerosaab connects with its five-seater Cessnas Holbox with Playa del Carmen and Cancun , which has an international airport.

Web links

Commons : Holbox  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Isla Holbox. In: mexiko-lexikon.de. Mexico Lexicon, July 31, 2009, archived from the original on August 29, 2011 ; accessed on March 15, 2020 .
  2. ↑ Isla Holbox - Mexico's Little Gem? used . In: wavesnbackpack.com . Retrieved April 24, 2017.

Picture gallery

  • Aerial view of the place Holbox

  • Beach in Holbox

  • Street in the place Holbox

  • Golf carts and mopeds are the only means of transport allowed on Holbox

  • White sand beach Holbox

  • Flamingos on the sandy beach

  • Rush hour traffic

  • Palm beach

  • Holbox Island