Illa de l'Aire facts for kids
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°48′03″N 04°17′24″E / 39.80083°N 4.29000°E |
| Archipelago | Baleric Islands |
| Area | 0.34 km2 (0.13 sq mi) |
| Length | 1.2 km (0.75 mi) |
| Width | 0.3 km (0.19 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | uninhabited |
Illa de l'Aire (which means Isle of the Air in Catalan) is a small, uninhabited island. It is also known as Isla del Aire in Spanish. This tiny island is located off the southeast coast of Menorca, one of the beautiful Baleric Islands in Spain.
You can find Illa de l'Aire very close to a place called Punta Prima, which is part of the Sant Lluís area. The local government of Sant Lluís manages this island.
Contents
Discovering Illa de l'Aire: A Small Island Gem
Illa de l'Aire covers about 34 hectares, which is like 34 football fields. The island's edge, or circumference, is about 3.3 kilometers long. Its highest point used to be 15 meters above the sea. This changed when the Illa de l'Aire lighthouse was built.
The island marks the southernmost part of the Balearic Sea. This sea is a smaller part of the much larger Mediterranean Sea.
Home to the Black Lizard
Illa de l'Aire is famous for a special kind of lizard that lives only there. This unique lizard is a subspecies called Podarcis lilfordi lilfordi. On Menorca, people often call it the sargantana negra, which means black lizard.
Even though they are called "black lizards," these amazing creatures can change their skin color. This helps them blend in with their surroundings. Very few people are allowed to visit the island. This rule helps protect the lizards, as their immune systems are not very strong. Because of its special lizards, Illa de l'Aire is sometimes called "Lizard Island." It also provides a beautiful view for visitors staying in Punta Prima and the nearby town of Sant Lluís.
Rabbits and Important Research
The island is also home to about 300 rabbits. These rabbits were brought to the island by people. In the year 2000, these rabbits were part of an important science experiment. Scientists used them to test a special vaccine. This vaccine was designed to spread on its own among the rabbits. The goal was to help them become immune to diseases like myxomatosis and rabbit hemorrhagic disease.
See also
In Spanish: Isla del Aire para niños
