Isla Cardona facts for kids
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Isla de Cardona, Ponce, Puerto Rico, as seen from Club Nautico de Ponce on Isla de Gatas, Ponce, PR, looking Southwest
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 Isla Cardona
Location in Puerto Rico
Isla Cardona
Location in Lesser Antilles
Isla Cardona
Location in Caribbean
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Coordinates | 17°57′24″N 66°38′6″W / 17.95667°N 66.63500°W |
| Area | 0.04 km2 (0.015 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Commonwealth | Puerto Rico |
| Municipality | Ponce |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 (Unihnabited) |
| Additional information | |
| Administered by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources | |
Isla Cardona, also known as Sor Isolina Ferré Island, is a small island off the coast of Ponce, Puerto Rico. It's about 1.3 nautical miles south of the main island. Even though it's separate, it's considered part of the Playa neighborhood in Ponce.
Isla Cardona is special because it has an old lighthouse from 1889. This lighthouse, called the Cardona Island Light, is listed in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The island is one of seven islands that belong to the city of Ponce.
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Discovering Isla Cardona
Isla Cardona is located in the Bahía de Ponce, which is the bay of Ponce. It covers an area of about 8.71 acres. People sometimes mistakenly call it a "cay" or "key," which is a small, low island made of sand or coral.
Because it's not far from the mainland, Isla Cardona is a popular spot for water sports. Many people enjoy kayaking and swimming there. Every year, dozens of swimmers visit the island for the Cruce a Nado. This is an international swimming competition supported by the Ponce government.
Why is it called Cardona Island?
The name "Cardona" likely comes from a family of lighthouse keepers. These keepers lived and worked on the island for many years.
Today, the island is also called "Sor Isolina Ferré Island." This name honors a religious woman who dedicated her life to helping people. She worked to improve the lives of residents in Barrio Playa, the area that Isla Cardona is part of.
Visiting Isla Cardona
You can see Isla Cardona from the observation tower at the La Guancha boardwalk. If you have a private boat, you can also reach the island that way.
Since 2018, tourists have been able to take a ferry to the island. When you visit, you can enjoy great snorkeling in the clear waters. There are also some trails to explore and, of course, the historic lighthouse to see. Ferry trips stopped for a short time after a big earthquake in 2020. But they started again about six months later. The Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources manages the island.
Island Nature and Environment
Isla Cardona is mostly a low-lying island. It is covered with small trees and bushes. The climate here is dry, which means it doesn't get much rain. Because of this, the island is home to a special type of plant life called dry forest.
Protecting Wildlife: The Black Rat Project
In 2010, two groups worked together to help the island's wildlife. The Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña (Puerto Rican Bird Society) and the Ponce Yacht and Fishing Club started a project. Their goal was to remove black rats from the island. This helps protect the native birds and other animals that live there.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Cardona para niños
