Timoteo Domínguez Island facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Timoteo Domínguez Island

Isla Timoteo Domínguez
Aerial view of the island formed by (former) islands Timoteo Domínguez (Uruguay) (top right), and Martín García (Argentina) (bottom left), looking west (November 2019)
Diagram of Timoteo Domínguez and Martín García Islands
Geography
Location	Río de la Plata
Coordinates	34°10.2′S 58°15.4′W / 34.1700°S 58.2567°W / -34.1700; -58.2567
Area	1.9 km2 (0.73 sq mi)
Administration
Uruguay
Department	Colonia
Demographics
Population	0

Timoteo Domínguez Island (Spanish: Isla Timoteo Domínguez) is an Uruguayan island. It is located off the coast of Uruguay in the Río de la Plata. This island is special because it is connected to another island, Martín García.

Islands in the Río de la Plata

Timoteo Domínguez Island is part of Uruguay. However, the nearby Martín García Island belongs to Argentina. This is interesting because Martín García Island is completely surrounded by Uruguayan waters. An area of one country that is inside another country's territory is called an exclave.

An Agreement Between Countries

For a long time, Uruguay and Argentina discussed who owned Martín García Island. In 1973, they made an important agreement. This agreement said that Martín García Island would belong to Argentina. It also decided that the island would be a special nature reserve. This means its natural environment is protected.

How the Islands Joined Together

The Río de la Plata carries a lot of sand and mud. Over many years, this material built up between the two islands. This process is called sedimentation. Eventually, enough land formed to connect Timoteo Domínguez Island and Martín García Island.

This connection created the first dry land border between Argentina and Uruguay. So, what were once two separate islands are now joined. This makes Timoteo Domínguez Island a unique part of the geography of the Río de la Plata.

See also

In Spanish: Isla Timoteo Domínguez para niños