Isla de Ratones (Ponce, Puerto Rico) facts for kids
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Native name:
Isla de Ratones
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Isla Ratones, as seen from Barrio Canas, Ponce, PR
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 Ratones
Location in Puerto Rico
Ratones
Location in Lesser Antilles
Ratones
Location in Caribbean
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| Geography | |
| Location | Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Coordinates | 17°57′18″N 66°40′53″W / 17.95500°N 66.68139°W |
| Area | 0.03 km2 (0.012 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Commonwealth | Puerto Rico |
| Municipality | Ponce |
| Barrio | Playa |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Isla de Ratones is a tiny, uninhabited island located off the southern coast of Puerto Rico. It's part of the city of Ponce. The island became well-known in 2010. This was when the Puerto Rican Bird Society started a project to get rid of the black rats living there. Even though it's called "Isla de Ratones" (which means "Island of Mice"), it's actually two small islands. They are separated by shallow water when the tide is high. But when the tide is low, they connect and become one island!
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Exploring Isla de Ratones
This small island is sometimes mistakenly called a cay (which is a low island made of sand or coral). It's located about 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) south of the main Puerto Rican coast. This is near Punta Cucharas in the area of Canas.
The island covers about 6.94 cuerdas, which is a way to measure land in Puerto Rico. One cuerda is almost equal to one acre. Because it's so close to the mainland, Isla de Ratones is a popular spot for water activities like kayaking. It's one of seven islands that belong to the municipality of Ponce. Other islands in Ponce include Caja de Muertos, Gatas, Morrillito, Cardona, Isla del Frio, and Isla de Jueyes.
Island Features and Environment
Isla de Ratones is a low-lying island mostly covered by bushes and small trees. The weather here is dry, and the island is home to a dry forest ecosystem.
As mentioned, the island is actually two parts that join at low tide. When the tide is low, the island grows from 6.94 cuerdas to about 12.35 acres. This makes it about 50% larger than the more famous Cardona Island, which is 8.71 acres and has a lighthouse. Cardona Island is located about 4.77 kilometers (2.96 miles) to the east.
Why the Name "Mice Island"?
The name Ratones means "Mice" in Spanish. This name comes from the large number of rodents that used to live on the island. In 2010, the Puerto Rican Bird Society (Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña) teamed up with the Ponce Yacht and Fishing Club. They started a project to remove the black rats from the island. This helped protect the native wildlife.
Protecting Nature
Even though Isla de Ratones is not officially a nature reserve, it is managed by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. This department helps protect the island's natural environment and its unique dry forest.
