Native name: Isla Alejandro Selkirk | |
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.jpg) A map of Alejandro Selkirk Island | |
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| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 33°45′04″S80°47′00″W / 33.75111°S 80.78333°W /-33.75111; -80.78333 |
| Type | Volcanic island |
| Archipelago | Juan Fernández Islands |
| Area | 49.5 km2 (19.1 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,268 m (4160 ft) |
| Highest point | Cerro de Los Inocentes |
| Administration | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 57 |
Alejandro Selkirk Island (Spanish:Isla Alejandro Selkirk), previously known asMás Afuera (Farther Out (to Sea)) and renamed after themarooned sailorAlexander Selkirk, is the largest and most westerly island in theJuan Fernández Archipelago of theValparaíso Region ofChile. It is situated 180 km (100 nmi; 110 mi) west ofRobinson Crusoe Island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean.
The Archipelago was home to the marooned sailor Alexander Selkirk from 1704 to 1709, and is thought to have inspired English novelistDaniel Defoe's fictionalRobinson Crusoe in his 1719 novel about the character (although the novel is explicitly set in theCaribbean, not in the Juan Fernández Islands).[1] This was just one of several survival stories from the period that Defoe would have been aware of.[2] To reflect the literary lore associated with the island and attract tourists, the Chilean government renamed the place Alejandro Selkirk Island in 1966.[3]
The island measures 11 km (7 mi) north–south and 6 km (4 mi) east–west, and has an area of 49.5 km2 (19.1 sq mi). It is densely wooded and very mountainous and is marked byridges and numerous deepravines lead to a steep, rugged coast on the east side of the island off which are tremendous depths. The coastalcliffs are up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) high. The south, west and north sides of the island have sandy strips of beach which extend 161 m (528 ft) offshore in places. The highest peak,Cerro de Los Inocentes, rises to 1,268 m (4,160 ft) in the southwest part of Alejandro Selkirk Island, where there is also a prominent rock with a hole through it.
Landing is possible near the center of the east shore at Quebrada Sánchez (Sánchez Ravine), and at the foot of Quebrada Las Casas (La Casas Ravine)33°45′S80°43′W / 33.750°S 80.717°W /-33.750; -80.717), where there is a boat slip and buildings of the former penal colony. Anchorage can be taken about 0.3 mi (480 m) east-northeast of Quebrada Sánchez (33°43′S80°44′W / 33.717°S 80.733°W /-33.717; -80.733), in depths of 40.2 to 49.4 m (132 to 162 ft). The ravine is recognized by a white patch on a hill near it. Anchorage can also be taken, in depths of 31.1 to 50 m (102 to 164 ft), with sand bottom, off Rada de la Colonia.[4]
Alejandro Selkirk Island is the emergent summit of asubmarineshield volcano that formed during thePleistocene epoch.[5] Dating of rocks on the island show that it is the youngest of the Juan Fernández Islands at an age of 1–2 million years old. Due to its young age, the island shows little evidence oferosion. According to some early reports, now disputed, about 59 km (32 nmi) southwest of the island is the submerged Sefton Reef (36°43′S83°15′W / 36.717°S 83.250°W /-36.717; -83.250), almost reaching sea level, and 47 km (25 nmi) to northwest, Yosemite Rock (32°04′S83°14′W / 32.067°S 83.233°W /-32.067; -83.233).Podesta Island, once reported to lie farther to the west, is aphantom island.
Alejandro Selkirk has asubtropical climate,[6] moderated by the coldHumboldt Current and the southeasttrade winds. Temperatures range from 3 °C (37 °F) to 34 °C (93 °F), with an annual mean of 15.4 °C (59.7 °F). Higher elevations are generally cooler. Average annual precipitation is 1,081 mm (42.6 in), varying from 318 mm (12.5 in) to 1,698 mm (66.9 in) year to year. Rainfall is higher in the winter months, and varies with elevation and exposure; elevations above 500 m (1,640 ft) experience almost daily rainfall.
TheJuan Fernández fur seal is known to have existed during the late 17th century on the island with the population of theseals on Alejandro Selkirk Island and Robinson Crusoe Island believed to be in excess of four million by the late 17th century. A census of 1797 estimated a population 2 – 3 million fur seals.[7] The species washunted to nearextinction by the 19th century and was thought to be extinct for 100 years until 200 were found on the island in 1965. Since then, the population has grown steadily at 15% to 20% every year.[8] TheMasafuera rayadito is endemic to Alejandro Selkirk and one of the rarest South American birds with only 140 individuals left.[9] The Alejandro Selkirk firecrown,Sephanoides fernandensis leyboldi, an endemic subspecies of theJuan Fernández firecrown, became extinct in 1908 due toferal goats and other introduced animals. The island has been recognised as anImportant Bird Area (IBA) byBirdLife International because it supports populations ofStejneger's andJuan Fernandez petrels, as well as the Masafuera rayaditos.[10]
The flora on the island is in theFernandezianfloristic region, in theAntarctic floristic kingdom, but often also included within theNeotropical kingdom.Endemicplant families includeLactoridaceae, with endemic plantgenera also found.[11]
Throughout much of its history, the island has been uninhabited. There was formerly a penal settlement along the middle of the east coast, at33°45′49″S80°45′27″W / 33.76361°S 80.75750°W /-33.76361; -80.75750. About 20 buildings can be made out on detailed satellite images.[12] The settlement was operative from 1909. It initially housed 190 criminals, while there were as many as 160 political prisoners from 1927 to 1930. The penal colony was abandoned in 1930.[13] Recently, the island has seen regular settlement, with 57 people living on the island as of the 2012 census.
In 1966 theChilean government renamed Isla Más Afuera as Alejandro Selkirk Island, withIsla Más a Tierra becoming Robinson Crusoe Island.Alexander Selkirk was a Scottish sailor who wasmarooned as acastaway on Más a Tierra (then uninhabited) from 1704 to 1709. His story of survival likely inspired the 1719 novelRobinson Crusoe byDaniel Defoe.[1]
33°45′04″S80°47′00″W / 33.75111°S 80.78333°W /-33.75111; -80.78333
