 Isla de Gatas on the left and its connection to the mainland | |
  Isla de Gatas | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Ponce,Puerto Rico |
| Coordinates | 17°57′49″N66°37′05″W / 17.96361°N 66.61806°W /17.96361; -66.61806 |
| Area | 0.053 km2 (0.020 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Commonwealth | Puerto Rico |
| Municipality | Ponce |
| Barrio | Playa |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
| Pop. density | 0/km2 (0/sq mi) |
Gatas, or more commonlyIsla de Gatas, is a smallisland in barrioPlaya in the municipality ofPonce in southernPuerto Rico. Atied island since the1950s connected to the Puerto Rico mainland via atombolo, Isla de Gatas is home toClub Náutico de Ponce, a private sports complex. It is located south ofLa Guancha and thePort of Ponce. Together withCaja de Muertos,Morrillito,Ratones,Cardona,Isla del Frio, andIsla de Jueyes, Gatas is one of seven islands in the municipality ofPonce.[1][2]
While geographically it is considered an island on its own right,[3] Gatas is actually physically attached to the Puerto Rico mainland, thanks to the construction of a dike in the1950s. In this sense, it is now acape more than an island in the strictest sense.[4] The dike grew the original one-acre island to the current 13 acres (5.261 hectares).[5]
Gatas is located at latitude 17°57'49"N and longitude -66°37'05" (Latitude. 17.96944°, Longitude. -66.6175°)[6] The island, located 0.12 mi (0.2 km) south of the mainland Puerto Rican shore across from Punta Peñoncillo, extends 0.31 mi (0.5 km) west from Punta Caranero to the east.[7][8]
The island has an elevation of 10 feet,[9] and it has a beach on the western side.
The island is a small low island and fully developed thanks to the construction of the Club Nautico de Ponce and itsmarina.
