Isla Blanca (Santa) facts for kids
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Isla Blanca (Spanish)
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Blanca Island
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 Blanca Island
Location in Peru
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| Geography | |
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 9°6′18.0″S 78°37′18.0″W / 9.105000°S 78.621667°W |
| Administration | |
| Region | Ancash |
| Province | Santa |
| Additional information | |
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Isla Blanca (also known as Blanca Island) is a cool volcanic island in Peru. It's right at the entrance of Chimbote Bay, close to the city of Chimbote. This island is pretty big, about 3,200 meters (2 miles) long and 920 meters (0.6 miles) wide. It stands tall at 204 meters (670 feet) high! The island looks very rough and rocky, especially on its western side. You might wonder why it's called 'Blanca' (which means 'white' in Spanish). It's because of all the guano (bird droppings) left by seabirds, which makes the island look white!
Contents
Protecting Isla Blanca
Isla Blanca is a special place that is protected as an ecological and tourist reserve. It's mostly made up of rocky mountains with not much vegetation (plants). This island is the biggest one in El Ferrol Bay (Chimbote Bay). You can find it about 5 kilometers (3 miles) northwest of the city of Chimbote.
Why is it a reserve?
The reserve helps protect many important things:
- The guano island itself, which is important for birds.
- The unique rocky landscape, sometimes called a "lítico forest."
- All the amazing animals that live on and around the island.
- The beautiful coves and narrow passages (called defiles) around its shores.
Island Animals
No people live on Isla Blanca, but it's a busy home for many animals! It's a safe place for different kinds of birds and sea creatures.
Birds of the Island
Many guano-producing birds find shelter here. These include:
- Pelicans, with their big pouches for catching fish.
- Different types of gulls, often seen flying around the coast.
When these birds gather, they sometimes carry tiny creatures called ticks. But don't worry, the island has its own way of dealing with them!
Other Island Creatures
You can also find small lizards on the island. These lizards actually help keep the island clean by eating the ticks that the birds bring!
In the waters around Isla Blanca, you might spot sea lions swimming and playing. The beaches of the island are also full of life. If you look closely, you can find different kinds of shells and small animals like:
All these creatures make Isla Blanca a really interesting place to learn about nature and wildlife!
See also
In Spanish: Isla Blanca (Áncash) para niños
