Riesco Island facts for kids
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Native name:
Isla Riesco
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 Riesco Island
Location in Southern Patagonia
Riesco Island (Chile)
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| Geography | |
| Location | Zona Austral |
| Coordinates | 52°54′S 72°10′W / 52.900°S 72.167°W |
| Area | 5,110 km2 (1,970 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,830 m (6,000 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Atalaya |
| Administration | |
| Region | Magallanes |
| Province | Magallanes |
| Commune | Río Verde |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 156 |
| Additional information | |
| NGA UFI=-899178 | |
Riesco Island, known as Isla Riesco in Spanish, is a large island in Chile. It is located to the west of the Brunswick Peninsula.
This island is one of the biggest in Chile. It covers an area of about 5,110 square kilometers (about 1,973 square miles). The highest point on the island is Mount Atalaya, which stands 1,830 meters (about 6,000 feet) tall.
Riesco Island is surrounded by two large bodies of water: Otway Sound and Skyring Sound. A narrow waterway called the Fitzroy Channel connects these two sounds. This channel also separates Riesco Island from the main land of Patagonia. Another narrow channel, the Geronimo Channel, separates the island from the southern part of the Muñoz Gamero Peninsula.
Coal on Riesco Island
Riesco Island holds Chile's largest known amounts of coal. People have been mining coal here since 1880. Some of the early mines were named Magdalena, Elena, and Josefina. In 1940, the Magdalena and Josefina mines together produced 100,000 tons of coal.
Today, it is believed that the island has more than 300 million tonnes of coal. This coal is found in three main areas: Río Eduardo, Elena, and Estancia Invierno.
Glaciers of Riesco Island
Many glaciers can be found on different parts of Riesco Island. In the northwest, there is a large icefield. This icefield is the source of seven different glaciers. Also, a mountain called Cerro Ladrillero has 12 glaciers on its sides.
In the southwestern part of the island, there is a place called the Córdova Peninsula. This peninsula marks the eastern edge of the Strait of Magellan. It is also home to several mountain glaciers.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Riesco para niños
