Isla de la Plata
| Isla de la Plata | ||
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| Waters | Pacific Ocean | |
| Geographical location | 1 ° 16 ′ 43 " S , 81 ° 4 ′ 7" W | |
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| length | 4.1 km | |
| width | 2.7 km | |
| surface | 5.9 km² | |
| Highest elevation | 167 m | |
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The Isla de la Plata (German: Silver Island , after an alleged by Sir Francis Drake there hidden silver treasure) is a 5.9 sq km and 23.6 km off the mainland coast of the province of Manabi , Ecuador situated uninhabited island to Canton Montecristi that Province belongs. It is part of the Machalilla National Park and can be reached by boat from Puerto López .
The highest point on the island at 167 meters is in the north, only around 400 meters inland from the north coast.
A variety of animal species live on the island. There are various boobies such as the blue-footed booby , the red-footed booby and the Nazca booby . Another species is the maned seal . Dolphins such as the slender dolphin can be found in the waters around the island . Guided tours are offered on a number of hiking trails, which are also offered to tourists arriving by cruise ship .
At the beginning of the 20th century, scientists from the Field Museum of Natural History ( Chicago ) discovered ancient relics such as cultic ceramic objects and statuettes made of gold, silver, bronze and copper during archaeological digs . In view of the lack of evidence of early settlement, these finds suggest that the island was long visited by inhabitants of the mainland for ritual purposes during pre-Columbian times.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Archive link ( Memento of the original dated February 26, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Robert L. Curry: Update from Isla de la Plata
- ↑ oA, "CURIOUS ARTIFACTS FROM LA PLATA ISLAND", January 9, 1902 in Nature (65: 231)
