Islas Marías
Small archipelago on the Mexican west coast / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Islas Marías?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
The Islas Marías ("Mary Islands") make up an archipelago in Mexico, consisting of four islands. They are located in the Pacific Ocean, some 100 km (62 mi) off the coast of the state of Nayarit and about 370 km (230 mi) southeast of the tip of Baja California.[1] They are part of the municipality (municipio) of San Blas, Nayarit. The islands were used as a penal colony until February 18, 2019, when President Andrés Manuel López Obrador ordered the closure of its operation as Islas Marías Federal Prison.
Geography | |
---|---|
Location | Pacific Ocean |
Coordinates | 21°31′N 106°29′W |
Archipelago | Islas Marías |
Total islands | 9 |
Major islands | María Madre, María Magdalena, María Cleofas and San Juanito |
Area | 244.970 km2 (94.583 sq mi) |
Highest elevation | 616 m (2021 ft) |
Highest point | Punta Rocallosa |
Administration | |
Mexico | |
State | Nayarit |
Municipality | San Blas, Nayarit |
Largest settlement | Puerto Balleto (pop. 602) |
Demographics | |
Population | 1,116 (2005) |
Pop. density | 7.68/km2 (19.89/sq mi) |
The first European to encounter the islands was Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, a cousin of Hernán Cortés in 1532, who gave them the name Islas Magdalenas. He found no evidence of prior habitation by the Native Americans.
In 2010 the archipelago was designated the Islas Marías Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.[2][3]