Lobos Island

For Isla de Lobos, an island south of Punta del Este, Uruguay, see Isla de Lobos.

Location of Lobos Island.

Lobos Island (Spanish: Isla de Lobos, pronounced: [ˈisla de ˈloβos]) is a small island of the Canary Islands (Spain) located just 2 km north of the island of Fuerteventura. Politically it belongs to the municipality of La Oliva, on the island of Fuerteventura. It has an area of 4.6 km². It has been a nature reserve without permanent human population since 1982. The island is accessible to tourists via a short ferry ride from Corralejo, in Fuerteventura. It has day facilities and weekend homes of local fishermen. The local lighthouse was automated in 1968.

Aerial view of Lobos Island, with the harbour of Corralejo, Fuerteventura Island, in the top left corner

In 1405, Lobos Island served as resupply base for Jean de Béthencourt's conquest of Fuerteventura.

Origin of name

Lobos Island (Wolves Island) was named for the large number of Sea wolves (also called monk seals) that lived there. When it was discovered by Spanish conquerors in the Archipelago, in the fifteenth century, the sea wolves were its only inhabitants, but with the arrival of man, these animals were hunted on a massive scale by sailors and fishermen who saw them as a source of food, fat and skin. Because of this hunting, the species eventually became extinct on the island and its presence now is only occasional.

Geography

The Lobos Island, as well as the rest of the Canary Islands, is a volcanic island. Its age is estimated between 6,000 and 8,000 years. The highest sector on the sea level is the mountain's Caldera, that is 127 meters. Some areas of the island includes little lake. Poor rains create a skyline dry.

Fauna and flora

Another feature of the Lobos island is that, despite being desert and volcanic, it has a large number of habitats: there are over 130 plant species, including the siempreviva - endemic island-, the Sea Uvilla, or White Caleton which is very attractive because of its shape and color.

Likewise, birds are an important feature of the island: it has a great variety of seabirds that usually nest on cliffs and rocks. Among these species are the Shearwater Cinderella, Little Shearwater and the herring gull. Also in residence are the storm petrel, Bulwer's Petrel and Yellow-legged Gull. In addition to birds a great diversity of Fish can be spotted in its waters. Of these abound old Fish (Canarian fish), Barracuda, Bream and Striped fish.

Because of its great ecological diversity the site has been identified as a protected zone, the Parque Natural del Islote de Lobos. It has also been declared a special protection area (SPA) for birds.

History

With regard to the historical aspects of the island, the island has always been almost entirely unpopulated. In 1405 Lobos Island served as resupply base for Jean de Béthencourt´s conquest of Fuerteventura. Until 1968 the only inhabitants of this island were the lighthouse keeper and his family, who had the responsibility of martino lighthouse, located north and reference point for this place, a place which, as noted, is free of stable human. On the island of wolves, the only permanent inhabitants are animals and trees. The island was one of the first natural areas of Canary Island designated as Natural park in 1982. Later the island was also designated an area of special protection of birds, where live many marine species and migratory birds.

Tourism

The Tourist can ask for authorization from the environment office of Fuerteventura Cabildo to camp in that island, for a maximum of three nights (in the place where allowed, "El carpintero" (the carpenter). The island is only visited regularly by tourists, curious fishermen or operators of small boats. To protect the charms of the island from human impact and to restrict visits to a limited number of people, the island is divided into several general use areas classified as moderate or restricted, marked with directional signs protecting the preservation areas.

Gallery

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  Lobos Island small lagoon

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  Lobos Island Playa de la Concha, looking to Punta Saladero

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  Lobos Island interior

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  Lobos Island interior detail

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  Lobos Island typical soil

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  Lobos Island buildings

References

• Pott, Joachim; Hüppe, Joachim & de la Torre, Wofredo Wildpret (2003): Die Kanarischen Inseln. Natur- und Kulturlandschaften] [The Canary Islands. Natural and Cultural Landscapes]. Ulmer, Stuttgart. 320 S., 295 color photos, 28 colored graphica, 3 tables. (presented and illustrated by Geobotanik)
• http://www.dondeviajar.es/stag/isla-los-lobos.html. Viajes a vela en las Islas Canarias, España ~ turismo vela: Isla de Lobos (Sailing trips in the Canary Islands, Spain ~ sailing tourism: Isla de Lobos) (In Spanish).Accessed on October 3, 2010, at 13:40.
• http://www.revistaiberica.com/rutas_y_destinos/cana/isla_lobos_fuerteventura.htm. Isla de Lobos. Islas Canarias. Fuerteventura (Lobos Island. Canary Islands. Fuerteventura) (In Spanish). Accessed on October 3, 2010, at 19:45.

External links

• Isla Lobos