Santa Inés Island facts for kids
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 Santa Inés
Location in Chile
Santa Inés Island (Chile)
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Zona Austral |
| Coordinates | 53°45′S 72°45′W / 53.750°S 72.750°W |
| Archipelago | Tierra del Fuego archipelago |
| Area | 3,688 km2 (1,424 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 1,341 m (4,400 ft) |
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Chile
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| Region | Magallanes |
| Province | Magallanes |
| Commune | Punta Arenas |
Santa Inés Island (which means Saint Agnes Island in Spanish) is a large island located in southern Chile. It is part of the Tierra del Fuego group of islands. The island is also part of the Punta Arenas area.
Santa Inés Island lies southwest of the Brunswick Peninsula. The famous Strait of Magellan separates it from the peninsula. It is the biggest island in the Punta Arenas area. It is also the third largest island in the Tierra del Fuego group. Only Isla Grande and Hoste Island are bigger.
Exploring Santa Inés Island
A part of the island's coast is protected. This area is called the Francisco Coloane Marine and Coastal Protected Area. It helps to keep the ocean and its creatures safe. The rest of Santa Inés Island is part of the Alacalufes National Reserve. This reserve is a special place for nature, just like Desolación Island. The Córdova Peninsula is also part of this reserve. It is located across the Strait of Magellan from Santa Inés Island.
Mountains and Fjords
Santa Inés Island has its own small ice field. It is called Grandes Ventisqueros. An ice field is a large area of ice that feeds glaciers. The island's coastline is very jagged. It has many deep inlets called fjords. Fjords are long, narrow sea inlets with steep sides. They were created by glaciers.
A Hidden Ship
One of these fjords once hid a German warship. This ship was called the Dresden. It hid there after a big sea battle. This battle was called the battle of the Falkland Islands. It happened in December 1914 during World War I.
First Explorers
The first person to explore the inside of Santa Inés Island was a French writer. His name was Marc Augier. He was also a mountaineer. He explored the island in 1951. He wrote about his adventures in a book called Monts Pacifique.
See also
- In Spanish: Isla Santa Inés para niños
