Ruth Island facts for kids
 Ruth Island
Location in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Ruth Island
Location in Caribbean
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Caribbean Sea |
| Coordinates | 17°41′1″N 64°45′43″W / 17.68361°N 64.76194°W |
| Area | 40 acres (16 ha) |
| Administration | |
| Federal Department | U.S. Department of the Interior |
| Federal Agency | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Capital city | Washington, D.C. |
| Largest settlement | New York City |
| President | Donald John Trump |
Ruth Island (also known as Ruth Cay) is a small, man-made island. It is located off the southern coast of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. This special island was created in the mid-1960s. It is about 40 acres (16 hectares) in size. Ruth Island is important because it provides a safe home for a rare type of lizard.
Contents
Discovering Ruth Island
Ruth Island is a unique place in the Caribbean Sea. It is not a natural island. Instead, it was built by people. This makes it an artificial island.
How Was Ruth Island Made?
Ruth Island was created in the mid-1960s. Workers used a process called dredging. This means they dug up sand and mud from the bottom of Krauses Lagune. They then piled this material up to form the island. The island is located near Port Alucroix.
Home to Special Lizards
Ruth Island is a very important place for wildlife. It is home to the endangered Saint Croix ground lizard (Pholidoscelis polops). These lizards are very rare. They need a safe place to live and grow.
Protecting the Lizards
Scientists brought the Saint Croix ground lizards to Ruth Island. They moved them from another place called Protestant Cay. This was done because Ruth Island did not have small Indian mongooses (Herpestes auropunctatus). Mongooses are animals that hunt lizards. By moving the lizards to Ruth Island, scientists gave them a safer home. Today, there are about 30 ground lizards living on Ruth Island. This helps protect their population.
See also
- Isla Ruth para niños (in Spanish)
