Pheasant Island facts for kids
|
Île des Faisans (Lua error in Module:ISO_639_name at line 108: attempt to index local 'data' (a nil value).)
Isla de los Faisanes (Lua error in Module:ISO_639_name at line 108: attempt to index local 'data' (a nil value).) Konpantzia (Lua error in Module:ISO_639_name at line 108: attempt to index local 'data' (a nil value).) |
|
|---|---|
|
|
| Geography | |
| Location | Bidasoa |
| Area | 0.00682 km2 (0.00263 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 6 m (20 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Autonomous community | Basque Country |
| Province | Gipuzkoa |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Pheasant Island is a tiny, uninhabited island in the Bidasoa river. This river forms part of the border between France and Spain. What makes this island special is that its control switches between France and Spain every six months! It's like a shared backyard that two countries take turns looking after.
Contents
What's in a Name?
You might think Pheasant Island is full of pheasants, but it's not! No one is really sure how it got its name. Some people think it might be a mistake from an old French word. This word might have been about "passing by" or a "toll" fee.
The island also has another name: "Conference Island." This name makes more sense. It comes from all the important international meetings that have happened there over the years.
A Place of History
Pheasant Island has seen many important moments in history. The most famous event was the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. This treaty helped end a long war called the Thirty Years' War.
Important leaders from France and Spain met on the island 24 times to discuss peace. To remember this big event, a special stone monument was built in the middle of the island.
The island was also a meeting spot for royal families:
- In 1659, Louis XIV of France met his future wife, Maria Theresa of Spain, on the island. A year later, she said goodbye to her father, Philip IV of Spain, there. Then she crossed into France to become the Queen.
- In 1721, Louis XV of France met his planned bride, Mariana Victoria of Spain. However, they never got married. Louis later married Marie Leszczyńska instead.
Who's in Charge?
Pheasant Island is a unique place in the world. It's called a "condominium" in international law. This means it's jointly owned and controlled by two countries. It's actually the smallest condominium in the world!
Control of the island switches every six months:
- From February 1 to July 31, Spain is in charge. The naval commanders from San Sebastián, Spain, are responsible for it.
- From August 1 to January 31, France takes over. The naval commanders from Bayonne, France, are responsible.
Even though it's officially managed by naval commanders, the mayors of nearby towns do the practical work. The mayor of Irun in Spain and the mayor of Hendaye in France take turns looking after the island.
One French officer who had a special role related to the island was Julien Viaud. He was better known as the famous writer Pierre Loti. He even had the unusual title of "viceroy of Pheasant Island."
Island Geography
As of 2018, Pheasant Island is about 200 meters (656 feet) long. It is also about 40 meters (131 feet) wide. The island is slowly getting smaller because of erosion from the river.
The border between France and Spain follows the deepest part of the Bidasoa river. This deepest part is on the northern side of the island. This means that Pheasant Island is actually completely surrounded by Spanish territory. It's like a small piece of land from one country that sits inside another country's borders. This is called an "enclave."
Visiting the Island
Pheasant Island is uninhabited, meaning no one lives there. Usually, you are not allowed to visit the island. It's closed to the public.
However, sometimes there are special "heritage open days." On these rare occasions, people might be able to visit. Also, workers from the towns of Irun or Hendaye go to the island every six months. They clean it and take care of the plants. Naval officers from Spain and France also visit the island every five days to check on it.
See also
In Spanish: Isla de los Faisanes para niños
- List of islands of France
- List of islands of Spain
