Illa Grossa facts for kids
Illa Grossa with visible lighthouse
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 Illa Grossa
Location in Spain
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| Geography | |
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| Coordinates | 39°53′50″N 0°41′00″E / 39.89722°N 0.68333°E |
| Archipelago | Columbretes Islands |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Mediterranean Sea |
| Area | 0.14 km2 (0.054 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
Illa Grossa means "Large Island" in the Valencian language. It is the biggest island in the Columbretes group, which is part of Spain. This island is found in the Mediterranean Sea.
Illa Grossa covers an area of about 14 hectares, which is like 14 soccer fields. It's about 60 kilometers away from the Costa del Azahar coastline. The island was formed by ancient volcanoes, which created its unique shape. It looks a bit like half of an oval. The highest point on the island is called Mount Colibrí or Colibre. Illa Grossa and the other Columbretes islands are part of a special protected area called the Columbretes Islands Natural Reserve.
Island's Past
For a long time, Illa Grossa was a hiding spot for pirates and smugglers. In the mid-1800s, people set the island on fire. They did this to get rid of many snakes that lived there. These snakes were special because they were only found on these islands. That's why ancient Greek and Roman sailors called the islands Ophiusa or Columbraria, which means "snake islands."
In 1859, a lighthouse was built on Illa Grossa. It stands 67 meters above the sea, making it the highest point in the island group. Later, in 1895, a book called Columbretes was published by Ludwig Von Salvator. This book was the first to describe all the different plants and animals living on the island.
Lighthouse keepers used to live and work at the lighthouse until 1975. After that, the lighthouse became automatic. In the late 1970s, the Spanish and American navies used the islands for military practice. They would drop bombs there. But in 1982, students protested, asking for the bombings to stop. The local government, called the Deputation of Castellón, asked the Spanish government to end the exercises. The Ministry of Defense agreed, and the bombings stopped.
Today, no one lives on Illa Grossa except for guards. These guards are placed there by the regional government, the Generalitat Valenciana, to protect the island.
The Columbretes islands are very important for nature. They were made a natural park in 1988. In 1990, a large area around them became a Marine Reserve. This means the sea and its creatures are also protected. Later, in 1994, the islands were officially named a Natural Reserve.
Amazing Animals
1405Columbretes(BV).JPG)
Illa Grossa is famous for being the home of the Columbretes lizard (Podarcis atrata). This lizard is unique to these islands.
Other important animals also live on the island. These include birds that are in danger of disappearing, like Eleonora's falcon and Audouin's gull. Protecting these islands helps these special animals survive.
See also
In Spanish: Columbrete Grande para niños
