Isla del Rey (Panamá)

Isla del Rey (Panamá)
San Miguel, Isla del Rey, 2003
Waters	Gulf of Panama
Archipelago	Pearl Islands
Geographical location	8 ° 22 ′  N , 78 ° 55 ′  W Coordinates: 8 ° 22 ′  N , 78 ° 55 ′  W
length	22.4 km
width	15.2 km
surface	243 km²
Highest elevation	Cerro Congo 168  m
Residents	1676 (2000) 6.9 inhabitants / km²
main place	San Miguel

Isla del Rey is the largest of the pearl islands in the Gulf of Panama . The island has an area of ​​243 km² and a population of 1,676 people (2000 census). There are 4 cities: San Miguel (967 inhabitants), La Esmeralda (524 inhabitants), La Ensenada (94 inhabitants) and La Guinea (83 inhabitants, all data from the 2000 census). The island is larger than the rest of the Pearl Islands combined and the second largest island in Panama after Coiba .

In October 1513, Vasco Núñez de Balboa was the first European to see Isla del Rey. He discovered the island on his first expedition into the Pacific Ocean. At that time he could only see the island from a great distance because the bad weather prevented him from landing. He called the island "Isla Rica" (German: Reiche Insel).

Individual evidence

1. ^ Image of Isla del Rey
2. ↑ Pearl Islands | Island Lexicon. In: www.insel-lexikon.com. Retrieved July 14, 2016 .