El Frontón facts for kids
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Isla El Frontón (Spanish)
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Ruins of the former San Juan Bautista prison.
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 El Frontón Island
Location in Peru
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| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 12°07′S 77°11′W / 12.117°S 77.183°W |
| Area | 1 km2 (0.39 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Region | Callao |
| Additional information | |
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El Frontón is a small, deserted island located off the coast of Callao, Peru. It is famous for its past as a prison, especially for political prisoners. Today, the island is empty of people and is a home for different marine animals.
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Island Geography
This dry island has no plants and is about 7 kilometers from the coast. It lies west of La Punta District and southeast of San Lorenzo Island. El Frontón is roughly 1 square kilometer in size. You can often see marine animals like sea lions and Humboldt penguins living there.
Island History
For many years, from the time Peru was a Spanish colony until the early 1800s, El Frontón Island was a hideout. It was used by pirates and privateers (sailors hired by governments to attack enemy ships). Because of this, the island was also known as Dead Man's Island (La Isla del Muerto).
El Frontón Prison History
The island became a prison in the early 1900s, starting in 1917. This happened under President José Pardo's government. At first, it was a very secure prison. Later, it held political prisoners, who were people jailed for their political beliefs.
One famous prisoner was Fernando Belaúnde Terry, who later became president of Peru. He even tried to swim away from the island, but he didn't succeed. Another well-known political figure, Hugo Blanco, was also held there. In 1981, the prison's name was changed to San Juan Bautista Prison.
During a time of conflict in Peru, the island's prison held members of a group called the Shining Path. On June 18, 1986, these prisoners started an uprising in a part of the prison called the Blue Pavilion. Similar uprisings happened in two other prisons at the same time.
The government, led by President Alan García, sent the Peruvian Navy to the island. Many prisoners involved in the rebellion were killed. Human rights groups later raised concerns about how the government handled the situation. They suggested that many of the deaths might have been unfair killings. The way the Peruvian Government acted during this event was criticized by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
Notable People Imprisoned
- Fernando Belaúnde Terry: He was president of Peru two times.
- Hugo Blanco: A politician known for his socialist views.
- Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre: He founded a major political party in Peru.
- Guillermo Portugal Delgado: A person who famously escaped by dressing as a woman. He then killed a sea lion and swam to the shore.
See also
In Spanish: Isla El Frontón para niños
