Desventuradas Islands

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Map Of Desventuradas Islands (Chile)

Map Of Chile

The Desventuradas Islands ('Unfortunate Islands') are relatively small oceanic islands, located approximately 850 km off the coast of Chile, part of Valparaíso region. The Desventuradas Islands consist of the two main islands Isla San Félix (26°16′50″S, 080°05′42″W) and Isla San Ambrosio (26°21′S 79°53′W) and several rocks and stacks: Islote Gonzalez or Isla Gonzalez (26°19′S 80°04′W; 173 m high), a small islet that is located southeast of Isla San Félix and Roca Catedral (26°16′08″S, 080°06′49″W; 53 m high) which is located north of Isla San Félix. Together, the Desventuradas Islands have a surface area of only 10.3 sq.km. The topography is very rugged, with peak elevations of 193 m on Isla San Félix, 479 m on Isla (de) San Ambrosio, 173 m on Islote/Isla Gonzalez and 53 m on Roca Catedral.

Both islands are of volcanic origin, and the flora and fauna are of great scientific interest, though there is little known about it. Isla (de) San Ambrosio rises from the sea as sheer cliffs on almost all sides, is 4 km long by 850 m wide, and primarily basaltic. Isla San Félix is slightly smaller and has two small peaks, reaching 193 m, which are denuded by high winds. The vegetation is a miniature mosaic of matorral, barren rock, various size trees, and shrubs mixed with ferns and perennial herbs. There is a single-runway military airfield in San Félix (ICAO code: SCFX).

There are no permanent sources of fresh water on the islands. Vertebrates inhabiting both islands are exclusively limited to birds. Ten species of marine birds and one land bird species, some of them endangered, make their nests on or visit the islands.

Because of their isolation and difficulty of access, there are no human settlements on these islands, but a detachment of the Chilean Navy is stationed on Isla San Félix.

[edit] List of the Desventuradas Islands

Desventuradas Islands ('Unfortunate Islands'):

Isla San Félix and its surrounding islets
- Isla San Félix (26°16′50″S, 080°05′42″W; 193 m high)
- Islote González or Isla Gonzalez (26°19′S 80°04′W; 173 m high)
- Roca Catedral (26°16′08″S, 080°06′49″W; 53 m high)
Isla (de) San Ambrosio (26°21′S 79°53′W; 479 m high)