Columbretes Islands
Encyclopedia
The Columbretes Islands are a group of small uninhabited islet
s of volcanic origin, in the Mediterranean Sea
, 49 km off Oropesa del Mar
. Administratively they belong to Castelló de la Plana municipality, Valencian Community
, Spain
.
The main islets are Illa Grossa , La Ferrera, La Foradada and El Carallot. The total emerged area of all four is around 0.19 km² and the highest point is 67 m.
Illa Grossa, by far the largest, is the northernmost island of the group. It stands in the place of an ancient crater
and shows a distinctive semi-circular pattern. There are no buildings on it, except for a 19th century lighthouse
, a jetty and the staff quarters used by the biologists working in the wildlife reserve.
and Romans
from ancient times. Writers such as Strabo
or Pliny the Elder
cited the astonishing amount of snakes inhabiting them. The names Ophiusa and Colubraria by which they were named (meaning serpent in Greek and Latin
, respectively) refer to that fact. The islands owe their present name to "Colubraria", the Latin word for "snake".
After a lighthouse was built on Illa Grossa in mid-19th century, a few people were settled on it. The small community looked after maintenance of the lighthouse and helped to deter smugglers who used the islets as a refuge. Farm animals including pig
s were introduced. This, combined with aggressive practices such as the burning of the original bushy vegetation of the lighthouse island (partly for agricultural uses and also to deliberately deprive the numerous endemic snub-nosed vipers
of their natural habitat), caused the snakes to become extinct by the end of the 19th century. The only testimony of their past abundance that remains today is a stuffed viper from the Columbretes in Madrid
's Natural Science Museum
.
s (which is a species listed as Near Threatened globally) is one of the most important in the world and key to the species ongoing recovery in the Spanish Mediterranean. The islets are also home for one of the major stable populations of Eleanora's Falcon in Spain. Besides, the islets are very important during spring and autumn bird migration
s, since many different species who follow the Spanish Mediterranean coast in the course of their migration use them as a brief stop in order to rest.
Due to its isolation, the islands are inhabited by an endemic subspecies of small lizard, Podarcis hispanica atrata
. There is also an endemic subspecies of Lobularia maritima
in the local flora.
After being given the Natural Park
status, pigs were eradicated. Also, the lighthouse is now automatic, which reduces the human presence only to the one of biologists assigned to the park's management.
The submerged area around the islands is as relevant in terms of conservation as the area above the surface. It covers an area of 400 km² where an important community of submarine wildlife thrives undisturbed. It became protected as a Marine reserve
in 1990.
Islet
An islet is a very small island.- Types :As suggested by its origin as islette, an Old French diminutive of "isle", use of the term implies small size, but little attention is given to drawing an upper limit on its applicability....
s of volcanic origin, in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
, 49 km off Oropesa del Mar
Oropesa del Mar
Oropesa del Mar is a municipality in the comarca of Plana Alta in the Valencian Community, Spain....
. Administratively they belong to Castelló de la Plana municipality, Valencian Community
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
The main islets are Illa Grossa , La Ferrera, La Foradada and El Carallot. The total emerged area of all four is around 0.19 km² and the highest point is 67 m.
Illa Grossa, by far the largest, is the northernmost island of the group. It stands in the place of an ancient crater
Volcanic crater
A volcanic crater is a circular depression in the ground caused by volcanic activity. It is typically a basin, circular in form within which occurs a vent from which magma erupts as gases, lava, and ejecta. A crater can be of large dimensions, and sometimes of great depth...
and shows a distinctive semi-circular pattern. There are no buildings on it, except for a 19th century lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
, a jetty and the staff quarters used by the biologists working in the wildlife reserve.
History
These islands were known by GreeksGreeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
and Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
from ancient times. Writers such as Strabo
Strabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
or Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
cited the astonishing amount of snakes inhabiting them. The names Ophiusa and Colubraria by which they were named (meaning serpent in Greek and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, respectively) refer to that fact. The islands owe their present name to "Colubraria", the Latin word for "snake".
After a lighthouse was built on Illa Grossa in mid-19th century, a few people were settled on it. The small community looked after maintenance of the lighthouse and helped to deter smugglers who used the islets as a refuge. Farm animals including pig
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
s were introduced. This, combined with aggressive practices such as the burning of the original bushy vegetation of the lighthouse island (partly for agricultural uses and also to deliberately deprive the numerous endemic snub-nosed vipers
Vipera latastei
Vipera latastei is a venomous viper species found in extreme southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa. Two subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.-Description:...
of their natural habitat), caused the snakes to become extinct by the end of the 19th century. The only testimony of their past abundance that remains today is a stuffed viper from the Columbretes in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
's Natural Science Museum
Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales
The Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales is the National Museum of Natural History of Spain. It is situated in the center of Madrid, by the Paseo de la Castellana. It is managed by the Spanish National Research Council....
.
Biosphere reserve
Since 1988 the archipelago has been declared a wildlife reserve. It is as an optimal place for the reproductive activities of certain sea birds. The local colony of Audouin's GullAudouin's Gull
The Audouin's Gull is a large gull restricted to the Mediterranean and the western coast of Saharan Africa. It breeds on small islands colonially or alone, laying 2-3 eggs on a ground nest...
s (which is a species listed as Near Threatened globally) is one of the most important in the world and key to the species ongoing recovery in the Spanish Mediterranean. The islets are also home for one of the major stable populations of Eleanora's Falcon in Spain. Besides, the islets are very important during spring and autumn bird migration
Bird migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal journey undertaken by many species of birds. Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability, habitat or weather. Sometimes, journeys are not termed "true migration" because they are irregular or in only one direction...
s, since many different species who follow the Spanish Mediterranean coast in the course of their migration use them as a brief stop in order to rest.
Due to its isolation, the islands are inhabited by an endemic subspecies of small lizard, Podarcis hispanica atrata
Podarcis hispanica
The Iberian Wall Lizard is a small wall lizard species of the genus Podarcis averaging 50–70 mm adult snout-vent length...
. There is also an endemic subspecies of Lobularia maritima
Lobularia maritima
Lobularia maritima, common name Sweet Alyssum or Sweet Alison, also commonly referred to as just Alyssum from the genus in which it was formerly classified, is a low-growing flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae.-Etymology:...
in the local flora.
After being given the Natural Park
Natural park (Spain)
In Spain, a natural park is a natural space protected for its biology, geology, or landscape, with ecological, aesthetic, educational, or scientific value whose preservation merits preferential attention on the part of public administration. The regulation of the activities that may occur there...
status, pigs were eradicated. Also, the lighthouse is now automatic, which reduces the human presence only to the one of biologists assigned to the park's management.
The submerged area around the islands is as relevant in terms of conservation as the area above the surface. It covers an area of 400 km² where an important community of submarine wildlife thrives undisturbed. It became protected as a Marine reserve
Marine reserve
For the United States Marine Corps Reserve see: Marine Forces ReserveA marine reserve is an area of the sea which has legal protection against fishing or development. This is to be distinguished from a marine park, but there is some overlap in usage...
in 1990.