Riesco Island
 | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Zona Austral |
| Coordinates | 52°54′S 72°10′W / 52.900°S 72.167°W |
| Area | 5,110 km2 (1,970 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,830 m (6000 ft) |
| Administration | |
Riesco Island (Spanish: Isla Riesco) lies at west of the Brunswick Peninsula, Chile. It is one of the largest islands in Chile, with an area of 5,110 square kilometres (1,970 sq mi). Its highest point is Mount Atalaya at 1,830 metres (6,000 ft). The island is bordered by two large piedmont embayments: Otway Sound and Skyring Sound. A narrow channel connects both bodies of water and separates the island from mainland Patagonia. The island is separated from the southern part of the Muñoz Gamero Peninsula by another narrow channel.
Riesco Island hosts Chile's largest known coal reserves, with mining activities dating back to the 19th century. It is thought to contain more than 300 million tonnes of low-quality coal in three deposits located in the colonized portion of the island: Río Eduardo, Elena and Estancia Invierno.
Numerous glaciers can be found on other parts of the island. In the northwest, an icefield is the source of 7 glaciers and Cerro Ladrillero has 12 glaciers on its slopes. In the southwestern portion of the island, Córdova Peninsula marks the eastern limit of the Strait of Magellan and is home to several mountain glaciers.[1]
Riesco is a surname. In Chile, a president named Germán Riesco was elected at the beginning of the 20th century. Many places have been named after him, including the Riesco River, a lake, an island and several streets.
References
- ^ USGS. "P 1386-I Chile and Argentina - Wet Andes: Southern Patagonian Andes". Retrieved 2008-01-28.
52°54′S 72°10′W / 52.900°S 72.167°W
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