Guafo Island facts for kids
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Native name:
Isla Guafo
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Guafo Island lighthouse
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  Guafo Island, outlying the entrance to the Gulf of Corcovado
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| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 43°35′35″S 74°42′49″W / 43.593029°S 74.713481°W |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Pacific ocean |
| Area | 202 km2 (78 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Region | Los Lagos |
| Province | Chiloé Province |
| Commune | Quellón |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 4 |
| Additional information | |
| NGA UFI= -883559 | |
Guafo Island is a special island found southwest of Chiloé Island in Chile. It's also northwest of the Chonos Archipelago. Because of where it is and the strong winds, it often gets a lot of rain. The ocean currents around Guafo Island bring many fish. This makes it a very rich area for sea life in the Southern Pacific Ocean. Many amazing sea animals, like fur seals, sea lions, and penguins, visit the island. They come here to find food and have their babies.
Amazing Animals of Guafo Island
Guafo Island is home to many different kinds of animals. It has the biggest group of South American fur seals (Arctophoca australis) that breed along the coast of Chile. You can also find a large number of South American sea lions (Otaria byronia) here.
The island is also important for marine otters (Lontra felina). These otters are a critically endangered species, meaning they are at high risk of disappearing forever. The waters around Guafo Island are a key feeding spot for giant whales. These include blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus), Southern right whales (Eubalaena australis), and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Even killer whales (Orcinus orca) are seen passing by.
When it comes to birds, Guafo Island has the largest breeding colony of sooty shearwaters (Puffinusgriseus) in the world. There are also important places where Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) build their nests. Sometimes, Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) are spotted too.
This island has been recognized as a very important place for marine conservation. Groups like the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) consider it a critical area to protect.
Guafo Island's Guiding Light
There is a lighthouse on Guafo Island that was built in 1907 by George Slight. This lighthouse is very important for ships sailing nearby. It helps them find their way safely.
The lighthouse itself is 8 meters tall. But the light it shines is 144 meters above the sea. This makes it visible from far away. Four people work at the lighthouse, and they live on the island for four months at a time. They are the only people who live on Guafo Island permanently.
Guafo Island's Weather
| Climate data for Guafo Island | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 15.1 (59.2) |
15.3 (59.5) |
14.9 (58.8) |
13.4 (56.1) |
12.1 (53.8) |
10.8 (51.4) |
10.3 (50.5) |
10.2 (50.4) |
10.3 (50.5) |
10.7 (51.3) |
11.8 (53.2) |
13.1 (55.6) |
12.3 (54.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 12.5 (54.5) |
12.6 (54.7) |
12.0 (53.6) |
10.8 (51.4) |
9.4 (48.9) |
8.2 (46.8) |
7.5 (45.5) |
7.3 (45.1) |
7.4 (45.3) |
8.3 (46.9) |
9.5 (49.1) |
11.0 (51.8) |
9.7 (49.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 9.6 (49.3) |
9.4 (48.9) |
8.8 (47.8) |
7.3 (45.1) |
6.3 (43.3) |
5.4 (41.7) |
4.7 (40.5) |
4.6 (40.3) |
4.5 (40.1) |
5.4 (41.7) |
6.6 (43.9) |
8.0 (46.4) |
6.7 (44.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 88.0 (3.46) |
88.9 (3.50) |
115.0 (4.53) |
147.0 (5.79) |
211.7 (8.33) |
193.7 (7.63) |
189.2 (7.45) |
189.4 (7.46) |
137.2 (5.40) |
104.0 (4.09) |
102.5 (4.04) |
102.5 (4.04) |
1,669.1 (65.71) |
| Source: Meteorología Interactiva | |||||||||||||
Guafo Island has a cool and rainy climate. The temperatures don't change much throughout the year. The warmest months are January and February, with average temperatures around 12.5°C. The coolest months are July and August, with averages around 7.5°C. The island receives a lot of rain, especially from April to August. The total rainfall for the year is over 1600 mm.
See also
In Spanish: Guafo para niños
