San Benedicto Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids San Benedicto |
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San Benedicto Island – Landsat Image N-12-15 2000 (1:25,000)
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | c.332 metres (1,089 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Revillagigedo Islands, México |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Cinder cones |
| Last eruption | 1953 |
San Benedicto Island is a small, uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean. It's part of the Revillagigedo Islands in Mexico. This island is the third largest in the group. It used to be called Isla de los Innocentes.
San Benedicto is about 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) long and 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) wide. Its total area is 10 square kilometers (3.9 square miles). The island was formed by volcanic activity. It has two main peaks. The highest peak is Bárcena, which stands 332 meters (1,089 feet) tall. Bárcena is a typical volcanic crater. It sits between two older craters called Herrera and Montículo Cinerítico. There is no natural source of freshwater on the island.
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History of San Benedicto Island
The first time Europeans saw San Benedicto Island was on December 28, 1533. A Spanish team led by Hernando de Grijalva discovered it. They named it Isla de los Inocentes. This name came from a religious holiday called the Holy Innocents.
In November 1542, another Spanish team saw the island. This group was led by Ruy López de Villalobos. They mistakenly thought it was Socorro Island, which Grijalva had named Santo Tomás.
The 1952/53 Volcanic Eruption
Bárcena volcano had its only known eruption starting on August 1, 1952. It began around 8:30 AM from a vent called El Boquerón. This was a powerful Vulcanian eruption. Hot ash and rocks, called pyroclastic flows, swept across the island.
Soon, the entire island was covered in ash and pumice. In some places, these layers were up to 3 meters (10 feet) deep. The eruption filled the valley between Herrera crater and Montículo Cinerítico. By August 14, a new cone had formed, reaching about 300 meters (1,000 feet) high.
After a few quiet months, more eruptions began on November 1, 1952. On December 8, hot magma broke through the cone's base. It started flowing into the sea. This continued until about February 24, 1953. By March 9, 1953, most of the activity had stopped. Only fumaroles (steam vents) remained. The lava had hardened but was still very hot. By late 1953, the volcano was quiet again.
Ecology and Wildlife
The 1952/53 eruption destroyed almost all plant and animal life on San Benedicto. Sadly, the San Benedicto rock wren, a bird found only on this island, became extinct. This happened around 9 AM on August 1, 1952. It's rare to know the exact moment an animal goes extinct. Observers offshore watched as the island was covered in ash.
However, after the volcano calmed down in spring 1953, seabirds returned. They came back to breed. They mostly nested north of Herrera crater. Here, the ash had already started to erode away. A few Johngarthia planatus land crabs were also seen. They might have survived or returned from the ocean. Still, the island had no plants.
By late 1953, rain had washed away ash and pumice from the steeper areas. At least half of the plant types seen before the eruption returned. Many seabirds were breeding again. Most were north of Herrera. A group of blue-footed boobies nested between Herrera and Bárcena.
Animal Life (Fauna)
Today, the animal life on San Benedicto is mostly vertebrate seabirds. Before the 1952 eruption, western ravens also lived here. However, that population was wiped out. Ravens are not found on San Benedicto today.
San Benedicto is important for many seabirds. It's the north-easternmost place where several birds from the tropical Eastern Pacific breed. Birds that nest on San Benedicto include:
- Wedge-tailed shearwater (Puffinus pacificus) – This is their easternmost breeding spot.
- Western red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus mesonauta) – Possibly their northernmost breeding spot.
- Northern blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii nebouxii) – Possibly their northernmost breeding spot.
- Nazca booby (Sula granti) – Possibly their northeasternmost breeding spot.
- East Pacific red-footed booby (Sula sula websteri) – Northernmost breeding site for this type.
- Northeast Pacific brown booby (Sula leucogaster brewsteri) – Northernmost breeding site.
- East Pacific great frigatebird (Fregata minor ridgwayi) – Northernmost breeding site for this type.
The nearly extinct Townsend's shearwater (Puffinus auricularis) doesn't seem to breed here. But they are sometimes seen feeding offshore. San Benedicto has no invasive species or predators (except frigatebirds). This makes it a good place for a new colony. Townsend's shearwaters bred here before 1952. They are very picky about where they nest. This is why they haven't returned yet.
Other birds sometimes visit the island. These include brown pelicans, red-tailed hawks, ospreys, barn swallows, and bay-breasted warblers. They usually leave or don't survive. The island is still too bare for them to live there permanently. Migrant waders, like Hudsonian curlews, use San Benedicto for short stops more often.
Plant Life (Flora)
Only about 10 types of plants have been found on San Benedicto. These are mainly herbs and grasses. There are also some small subshrubs and vines. It seems no plant types became extinct because of the 1952 eruption.
Some plants found here are unique to the Revillagigedo Islands. They are also found on Clarión Island. These include Bulbostylis nesiotica, Cyperus duripes, and Perityle socorrosensis. Scientists are still studying the exact classification of the local Euphorbia anthonyi.
Other plants on San Benedicto are Aristolochia islandica, Cenchrus myosuroides, Eragrostis diversiflora, Erigeron crenatus, Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis, and Teucrium townsendii.
Visiting San Benedicto Island
San Benedicto Island is a popular spot for scuba diving. Divers come here to see amazing underwater creatures. These include dolphins, sharks, giant manta rays, and other large ocean animals. A famous diving spot called "The Boiler" is known for interactions with manta rays. Divers have also seen tiger sharks, Galápagos sharks, silky sharks, and humpback whales here.
There is no public airport on the island. So, divers visit by special dive boats. The best time to visit is between November and July. During these months, the weather and seas are usually calmer.
Images for kids
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San Benedicto Island from above
See also
In Spanish: Isla San Benedicto para niños
