Montecristo
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 The islet seen from a boat |
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Tyrrhenian Sea |
| Archipelago | Tuscan Archipelago |
| Area | 13 km2 (5 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 645 m (2,116 ft) |
| Highest point | Fortezza |
| Country | |
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Italy
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| Region | Tuscany |
| Province | Livorno |
| Demographics | |
| Population | uninhabited |
| Density | 0 /km2 (0 /sq mi) |
Montecristo is a small Italian islet, approximately 4.3 kilometers (2.3mi) across at its widest point, located about halfway between Corsica and mainland Italy; south of Elba and west of Giglio. It is part of the Tuscan Archipelago. The islet is the tip of a volcano.[1]
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[edit] History
The island is probably best known as a fictional setting in the novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.
Monte Cristo is Italian for "The mountain of Christ." According to a legend on Montecristo, in the fifth century Saint Mamilian of Palermo defeated a dragon on the island, and also changed the island’s name from Montegiove ("Jove's Mountain") to Montecristo ("Christ's Mountain").[2] A community of hermits, said to have been Mamilian’s followers, lived on the island, and around 600 AD, a monastery was built.[2] Ruins of the monastery of San Mamiliano, dedicated to Mamilian of Palermo,[3] remain visible.
As of 2012, there is a significant infestation of rats and it is estimated that there is one rat per square meter. Plans have been adopted to bomb the island with rat poison in order to ameliorate the problem.[4]
[edit] Arcipelago Toscano National Park
The island is remote and kept by the Italian government as a nature preserve park in Arcipelago Toscano National Park, and is only accessible by private yacht and permit.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.volcanolive.com/montecristo.html
- ^ a b "Montecristo Island". Toscana Viva. http://www.toscanaviva.com/Portoferraio/montecristo_island.htm. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
- ^ Antonino Cottone (2003). "San Mamiliano di Palermo". Santi e beati. http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/91383. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
- ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/9016384/Island-of-Montecristo-to-be-bombed-with-poison-after-rat-infestation.html
[edit] External links
Media related to Montecristo island at Wikimedia Commons Coordinates: 42°20′N 10°19′E / 42.333°N 10.317°E
