Illa Conillera facts for kids
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Sa Conillera
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Aerial view of Illa Conillera
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 Illa Conillera
Location in Ibiza
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| Geography | |
| Location | Balearic Sea |
| Coordinates | 38°59′20″N 1°12′41″E / 38.98897°N 1.21141°E |
| Archipelago | Balearic Archipelago |
| Area | 100 ha (250 acres) |
| Administration | |
| Autonomous Community | Balearic Islands |
| Province | Ibiza |
| Municipality | Sant Antoni de Portmany |
Illa Conillera is a small, beautiful island located off the northwest coast of Ibiza, a famous Spanish island. People also call it Conejera or Sa Conillera. It's about 6.1 kilometers (3.8 miles) west of the town of Sant Antoni de Portmany and is part of the amazing Balearic Archipelago.
Contents
About Illa Conillera
Illa Conillera is about 100 hectares (247 acres) in size. It's long and thin, stretching about 2.1 kilometers (1.3 miles) from north to south. The island is mostly surrounded by deep water and has steep cliffs along its edges.
The Lighthouse of Illa Conillera
A very old lighthouse stands on Illa Conillera. It was built way back in 1857. The lighthouse tower sits on top of a round building. Two extra rooms were added to the main structure in 1908.
This lighthouse is at the northwest end of the island. Its light is 85 meters (279 feet) above sea level. On a clear day, its light can be seen from about 18 nautical miles (33 kilometers or 21 miles) away. The light flashes four times every 20 seconds. During the day, you can see its 18-meter (59-foot) tall white tower.
Island Life: Plants and Animals
Illa Conillera is a rocky and dry island. This means not many plants can grow there.
Flora: Plants of the Island
You can find tough shrubs and herbs like Rosemary, Thyme, and Rue growing in large amounts. There are also Mastic bushes, small pine trees, and Juniper plants. The strong winds on the island have shaped many of these into low, bushy forms. They create green patches across the rocky land.
Fauna: Animals of the Island
Several unique animals live on Illa Conillera.
- There's a special type of cicada here. You can hear its loud, buzzing sound all over the island.
- A unique kind of Ibizan wall lizard also lives on the island.
- It's home to a group of Eleonora's falcons, which are birds of prey. These birds are endangered, so the island is an important place for them.
- You'll also find many gulls and cormorants.
- The most common animals on the island are rabbits. In fact, the island gets its name, Rabbit Island, from them!
The Legend of Hannibal
There's an old legend that says the famous Carthaginian General Hannibal was born on Illa Conillera. The story tells that Hannibal's father, Hamilcar Barca, and his pregnant wife were on a warship. They were sailing near Ibiza when a big storm hit.
Hamilcar told his captain to find a safe place to hide from the storm. The ship found shelter in an inlet on the south side of the island. Hannibal's mother was taken ashore. They found a cave in the cliffs to stay safe. Soon after, she gave birth to Hannibal in that very cave. To this day, a cave on the southern side of the island is called sa Casa d'Annibal, which means Hannibal's House.
Pirates of the Past
Some years ago, three skeletons were found on the island. Scientists used a method called carbon dating to find out how old they were. They discovered the skeletons were from the early 1500s. People believe these were the remains of pirates who were brought to the island to be executed.
One skeleton had a lead bullet in its spine. The other two skeletons showed signs of torture. One of the tortured victims had been beheaded, but their skull was never found on the island.
Images for kids
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Aerial view of Illa Conillera
