Isla del Fraile

For the island in the Philippines, see Fort Drum (Philippines).

Isla del Fraile (Friar's Island) is a steep island located east of the urban centre of Águilas (Murcia), Spain. It has infra-Mediterranean vegetation and one of the richest seabeds in the southeast of the peninsula, especially due to its populations of oceanic Posidonia. It is a place of passage and sighting of dolphins and has an important colony of seagulls. Geologically it belongs to the Subbaetic System, as a part of the Maláguide and Alpujárride systems. During the Late Roman period (5th c.), a garum factory was erected in the island, with several processing vats.^[1][2] It has been declared a Protected Natural Area.

Isla del Fraile

Isla del Fraile
El Fraile Island seen from the west
Location in Spain
Geography
Location	Águilas, Mediterranean Sea
Coordinates	37°24′31″N 1°32′48″W
Area	0.068 km2 (0.026 sq mi)
Length	441 m (1447 ft)
Width	258 m (846 ft)
Highest elevation	92 m (302 ft)
Administration
Spain
Autonomous Community	Region of Murcia
Demographics
Population	0 (2023)

It has been proposed that the oronym "Fraile" ("Friar") could have evolved from the term "farellón" (equivalent to farallón, 'sea stack').^[3]

It is a popular place for practicing nautical sports due to its particular orography and the protection it offers from the east, the predominant wind on its coast.