Isla San José (Panama) facts for kids

Isla San José is the second largest island in the Pearl Islands. These islands are located off the Pacific coast of Panama. Isla San José is a private island. It covers an area of about 44 square kilometers (17 square miles). In the year 2000, only 10 people lived there. The island is home to thousands of wild pigs and deer. Isla San José has a rugged, rocky shoreline and more than 50 beaches.

The island has its own airport, called San José Airport.

Island History

Between 1945 and 1947, a group of U.S. soldiers used Isla San José for testing. The island was empty at that time. They tested special materials and left behind some unexploded items. These included large bombs weighing 500 to 1,000 pounds. Reports say that some of these items contained different kinds of testing substances. There were also claims about hidden mine fields, but no proof has been found. A lot of other testing materials were also dropped into the sea around the island.

Later, Earl Tupper owned the island. He was famous for inventing Tupperware.

Wildlife on the Island

Isla San José is home to many animals. Thousands of wild pigs live there. You can also find many deer. These animals roam freely across the island. The island's rugged landscape and many beaches provide different habitats for them.

Getting to Isla San José

The island has its own airport. It is called San José Airport. This airport helps people travel to and from the island.