Cayos Arcas
Encyclopedia
The Cayos Arcas is a chain of three tiny sand cay
s and an accompanying reef system in the Gulf of Mexico
. It is located approximately 130 kilometers from the mainland, west of Campeche
. Their aggregate land area is 22.8 hectares. They belong to the municipality of Champotón
in the state of Campeche
.
The main island is Cayo del Centro, with an area of 13.7 hectares, which is scantily covered with grass. Bushes and several clumps of palms are also present. A pair of lighted range beacon
s stand on the cay. Cayo del Este, a cay 5.2 hectares large and 3 meters high, lies on a detached reef lying 0.5 km southeast of Cayo del Centro. Cayo del Oeste, a cay 3.9 hectares in area and 2 meters high, lies on a small detached
reef about 1.3 km west of the south end of Cayo del Centro.
The chain is uninhabited, and lacks structures except for the beacons on Cayo del Centro. Vegetation on the islands is sparse, consisting of sand shrubs and grasses. It currently serves as a navigational marker. Cayos Arcas Terminal, an extensive chain of petroleum
stations on the Arcas' reef system is located to the south of the islands. The Arcas oil rig
s are currently among the largest oil producers in the gulf in terms of output.
The Arcas chain was often used for military operations in the Gulf during 19th century. A naval flotilla from the Republic of Texas
briefly occupied the island during action in the Republic of Yucatán
rebellion. During the American Civil War
the famous Confederate
raider CSS Alabama
used the remote chain as a rendezvous point to be resupplied while conducting operations in the gulf.
Cay
A cay , also spelled caye or key, is a small, low-elevation, sandy island formed on the surface of coral reefs. Cays occur in tropical environments throughout the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans , where they provide habitable and agricultural land for hundreds of thousands of people...
s and an accompanying reef system in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. It is located approximately 130 kilometers from the mainland, west of Campeche
Campeche
Campeche is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Located in Southeast Mexico, it is bordered by the states of Yucatán to the north east, Quintana Roo to the east, and Tabasco to the south west...
. Their aggregate land area is 22.8 hectares. They belong to the municipality of Champotón
Champotón Municipality
Champotón Municipality is a municipality within the state of Campeche, including the city of Champotón and the surrounding area. In 2005 the municipality of Champotón had a population of 76,116 inhabitants...
in the state of Campeche
Campeche
Campeche is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Located in Southeast Mexico, it is bordered by the states of Yucatán to the north east, Quintana Roo to the east, and Tabasco to the south west...
.
The main island is Cayo del Centro, with an area of 13.7 hectares, which is scantily covered with grass. Bushes and several clumps of palms are also present. A pair of lighted range beacon
Beacon
A beacon is an intentionally conspicuous device designed to attract attention to a specific location.Beacons can also be combined with semaphoric or other indicators to provide important information, such as the status of an airport, by the colour and rotational pattern of its airport beacon, or of...
s stand on the cay. Cayo del Este, a cay 5.2 hectares large and 3 meters high, lies on a detached reef lying 0.5 km southeast of Cayo del Centro. Cayo del Oeste, a cay 3.9 hectares in area and 2 meters high, lies on a small detached
reef about 1.3 km west of the south end of Cayo del Centro.
The chain is uninhabited, and lacks structures except for the beacons on Cayo del Centro. Vegetation on the islands is sparse, consisting of sand shrubs and grasses. It currently serves as a navigational marker. Cayos Arcas Terminal, an extensive chain of petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
stations on the Arcas' reef system is located to the south of the islands. The Arcas oil rig
Oil rig
Oil rig may refer to* Drilling rig, an apparatus for on-land oil drilling* Oil platform, an apparatus for offshore oil drillingOIL RIG or OILRIG may refer to :...
s are currently among the largest oil producers in the gulf in terms of output.
The Arcas chain was often used for military operations in the Gulf during 19th century. A naval flotilla from the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
briefly occupied the island during action in the Republic of Yucatán
Republic of Yucatán
The Republic of Yucatan was a nineteenth century sovereign state during two periods of the century. The first Republic of Yucatan, founded May 29, 1823, joined the Mexican federation as the Federated Republic of Yucatán on December 23, 1823, less than seven months later...
rebellion. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
the famous Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
raider CSS Alabama
CSS Alabama
CSS Alabama was a screw sloop-of-war built for the Confederate States Navy at Birkenhead, United Kingdom, in 1862 by John Laird Sons and Company. Alabama served as a commerce raider, attacking Union merchant and naval ships over the course of her two-year career, during which she never anchored in...
used the remote chain as a rendezvous point to be resupplied while conducting operations in the gulf.