La Toja Island Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
A Toxa Island
Geography
View of the island.
A Toxa Island Location in Spain
Coordinates	42°29′22.0″N 8°50′55.0″W / 42.489444°N 8.848611°W / 42.489444; -8.848611
Area	1.1 km² (0.42 sq mi)
Length	2.17 km (1.348 mi)
Width	0.81 km (0.503 mi)
Highest elevation	42 m (138 ft)
Administration
Spain
Autonomous community	Galicia
Province	Pontevedra
Municipality	O Grove
Demographics
Population	47

A Toxa (also known as Illa da Toxa, A Toxa Grande, Island of Louxo or Island of the Baths of Louxo) is a small island in Galicia, Spain. It's part of the O Grove area. The island is located east of the town and is connected to the mainland by a bridge built in the 1700s. A small village on the island, also called Illa da Toxa, had 42 people living there in 2018. The island covers about 110 hectares (which is about 270 acres) and is around 30 kilometers (18 miles) from Pontevedra.

What's in a Name?
Where Do the Names Come From?
A Look at A Toxa's Past
The Island's Spa and Fun
The Unique Chapel
Fun Things to Do for Tourists
Images for kids
See also

What's in a Name?

A Toxa Island

The island has traditionally been known by its original Galician names: Illa de Louxo or Illa da Toxa Grande. The name A Toxa Grande helps tell it apart from a smaller island nearby called A Toxa Pequena. This smaller island is only about 100 meters (330 feet) east of A Toxa Grande.

Where Do the Names Come From?

The name Toxa likely comes from an ancient word meaning "muddy place." This makes sense because the island is famous for its special mud from thermal springs, which people use for health treatments.

The other name, Louxo, comes from an old word meaning "to wash" or "to wash oneself." This name also points to the island's very old thermal springs, where people have been washing and bathing for a long time.

A Look at A Toxa's Past

For many centuries, the people of O Grove used A Toxa Island for farming and for grazing their animals. They would bring their cattle over by boat.

In the 1800s, people rediscovered the island's special thermal mud and healing waters. Because of this, the island became private property so its health benefits could be used. An old spa was built, which led to a huge increase in visitors and the creation of many other buildings and services.

In 1989, the island hosted a special meeting called the Bilderberg Group. This meeting brings together important leaders from politics and finance from around the world to discuss global issues.

The Island's Spa and Fun

A Toxa is one of the most famous islands in Galicia because it's a popular place for spas, fun, and tourism. It has many things to do, including:

Thermal baths where you can relax in warm, healing waters.
Old factories that used to make soap and beauty products.
Fancy hotels for visitors.
A golf course for playing golf.
A marina for boats.
A center for big meetings and events.
The first casino in Spain.
Tennis courts, padel courts, and archery areas.
Swimming pools.
Areas with housing estates (homes).
A shopping center.

Even with all these facilities, the middle of the island still has a thick pine forest. The island is divided into different parts:

32 hectares (about 79 acres) for private homes, mostly on the southern part and the eastern and western sides.
25 hectares (about 62 acres) for the golf course, which covers the entire northern part.
25 hectares (about 62 acres) of untouched pine forest in the center of the island.

The Unique Chapel

St. Sebastian's chapel

The island has a very special chapel dedicated to Saint Caralampio and the Virgin of Carmen. The original design of this chapel dates back to the 1100s. What makes it truly unique is that its outside walls are completely covered with scallop shells!

Fun Things to Do for Tourists

There are many fun things to do on A Toxa Island. You can take boat trips along the ria (a type of river mouth). These boats are catamarans, which means they have two hulls. Some of them even have a special glass bottom so you can see the marine animals swimming below!

During the boat trip, you can visit a mussel farm. Here, guides will explain how mussels are grown and harvested.

The island's Gran Hotel is also worth seeing. It's a great example of the beautiful Belle Époque architectural style, which was popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s.