Isla de Flores facts for kids
Isla de Flores is a small island in Uruguay. It is located in the Rio de la Plata, about 34 kilometers (21 miles) southeast of Punta Carretas, Montevideo. This island and the water around it became a national park on February 26, 2018. This means it is a special place protected by the government!
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Island History
How Isla de Flores Got Its Name
The island was named by Sebastián Gaboto. He discovered it on Easter Sunday in 1527. In Spanish, Easter is sometimes called Pascua Florida or Pascua de Flores, which means "Flowery Easter." This is why the island was named "Flores," which means "Flowers."
Sailors and Seals
Sailors often visited Isla de Flores a long time ago. A British-born U.S. minister named George Pegler visited the island around 1811 or 1812. He was with the crew of a British Navy ship called the Horatio. The crew called it Seal Island because there were so many South American fur seals there.
Sailors would go ashore in large groups to hunt the seals. They would gather the seals' skins to make clothes like caps, vests, and jackets. The captain even had a colorful carpet made from the skins for his cabin! George Pegler made a suit of outer clothes for himself and a carpet for his mother from the seal clippings.
Other Animals on the Island
Young George Pegler, who was 13 at the time, also saw a horse and a sheep on the island. He thought they might have been left there by General John Whitelocke. This general was returning from a failed attempt to capture Buenos Aires in 1807. On their last day on the island, the ship's captain, Joshua Percy, managed to shoot the sheep.
The Lighthouse of Flores Island
Isla de Flores has a very old lighthouse. This lighthouse is important because it was part of a treaty in 1819. The lighthouse was built by the Portuguese and started working in 1828. It is now managed by the Uruguayan Navy. The lighthouse is 37 meters (121 feet) tall and flashes its light twice every 10 seconds. It helps guide ships safely in the water.
Accidents Near the Island
On June 6, 2012, a cargo plane disappeared near Isla de Flores. The plane was a Fairchild SA227AC Metro III, belonging to Air Class Airlines. It was flying from Montevideo to Buenos Aires when it vanished south of the island.
See also
In Spanish: Isla de Flores (Uruguay) para niños
