Taboga Island facts for kids
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Native name:
Isla Taboga
Nickname: Island of Flowers
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 Taboga Island
Location in Panama
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| Geography | |
| Location | Gulf of Panama |
| Coordinates | 8°47′0″N 79°33′0″W / 8.78333°N 79.55000°W |
| Area | 12.1 km2 (4.7 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Province | Panamá |
| District | Taboga |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 1.629 |
| Pop. density | 134.6 /km2 (348.6 /sq mi) |
Taboga Island (which means Isla Taboga in Spanish) is also known as the "Island of Flowers." It's a volcanic island located in the Gulf of Panama. This beautiful island is a popular spot for tourists, found about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Panama City, Panama.
Contents
Island History
This island was first found in the 1500s. A Spanish explorer named Vasco Núñez de Balboa called it Isla de San Pedro. The name "Taboga" comes from an old Indian word, aboga, which means "many fish." The first people to live on the island were Indian slaves from Venezuela and Nicaragua.
Founding San Pedro
The small town of San Pedro was started in 1524 by Hernando de Luque. He was an important church leader in Panama. The town's church, also called San Pedro, is thought to be the second-oldest church in the Western Hemisphere. A famous Catholic saint, Rose of Lima (1586–1617), who was the first saint from the Americas, might have been born on Taboga Island.
Pirates and Painters
In 1671, during a time when the pirate Henry Morgan attacked Panama, English privateers (who were like legal pirates) led by Robert Searle searched Taboga Island. They were looking for treasure and people to capture. Later, in 1887, the famous French painter Paul Gauguin visited the island.
Paul Gauguin's Visit
Paul Gauguin came to Taboga Island because he was sick. He had been working on the French attempt to dig the Panama Canal. After getting better on the island, he went back to France. There's a special sign on the island's main beach that remembers his visit.
Island Geography and Climate
Taboga Island is connected to a smaller island called El Morro by a sand bar when the tide is low. This sand bar is at the northern end of Taboga. The island is also close to Urabá Island, about 270 meters (886 feet) away.
Taboga has a tropical rainforest climate. This means it's warm and rainy most of the time. The average daytime temperature is around 28 degrees Celsius (83 degrees Fahrenheit). The island is well-known for its lovely beaches, clear water, soft sand, and as a safe place for wildlife.
Fun Things to Do
Tourism is the main way people make money on Taboga Island. People also fish and farm there. Because the island is so beautiful and close to Panama City, it's a very popular place for visitors. You can take a ferry from Panama City to the island every day. Most ferries leave from the Amador Causeway.
Besides relaxing on the beaches, you can also go hiking on trails to the island's highest spots. These include Cerro Vigía and Cerro de la Cruz. Cerro de la Cruz is a hill south of the town with a huge cross on top. There are many exciting activities to try, like:
- Boat tours for fishing
- Watching whales
- Snorkeling in the clear waters
- Mountain tours and sightseeing
- Walking and nature tours
See also
In Spanish: Isla de Taboga para niños
