Santa Clara (Juan Fernández Islands)
Encyclopedia
Santa Clara is an uninhabited tiny island
in the Pacific Ocean
, off the coast of Robinson Crusoe Island
in a group of islands known as the Juan Fernández Islands
. The island is of volcanic origin and is approximately 1 kilometre long and 600 metres wide. The island group is politically part of the South American country Chile
, and is administratively assigned to the Region of Valparaíso.
Isla Santa Clara is the smallest island of the Juan Fernandez Islands and has an area of about 2.2 sq. km. surrounded on south side by a reef. The highest point is 376 m. This volcanic islet is related to a group of three islands. It is located 1.5 km southwest of Isla Robinson Crusoe. Has a flat surface with a maximum altitude of 376 meters (Johow hill). For geomorphological characteristics and composition of its lavas, is postulated to be the first volcanic center which led to the emerged Robinson Crusoe Island and, therefore, of greater antiquity with 5.8 million years. The main economic activity is fishing of the spiny lobster, Jasus frontalis.
Santa Clara Island is generally desolate and barren, but in its eastern slope there are some trees, and in the northwest tip a periodical stream of water runs along the gorge, which reaches the sea.
The low vegetation has been eroded in the past by herds of goats up on the rocks.The native flora is characterized by low fire tolerance and poor adaptation to herbivore resistance.Ferals rabbits are the greatest threat because they exert devastating effects on the island’s habitats. The majority of the original vegetation on the island has been replaced by shrub
s and grass
es.The vegetation
is a miniature mosaic of matorral
, barren rock, various size trees, and shrubs mixed with ferns and perennial herbs. Nearly all of Santa Clara is bundant in the introduced Rubus ulmifolius
, Aristotelia chilensis
, Ugni molinae
, Lantana camara
and Lonicera japonica some have the potential to be serious pests and dominates some areas, having fleshy fruits that are bird dispersed, many more in addition to the weeds, Danthonia collina, Stipa laevissima and Piptochaetium bicolor. Santa Clara includes volcanic rocks, and several small beaches, including some white sand beaches. At short distance from the western extremity of Santa Clara Island, there is a small rocky islet, in the tip south of the same islet, there is a sandbar composed of various rocks on water. Coming from the north, affects the island of Santa Clara the appearance of a cliff or escarpment, but approaching from the south, shows an eroded quirky aspect of conical mounds and rocks cut strangely. Access by boat to the island is dangerous because the strong sea breaks almost on all sides.
The island is slightly mountainous, and its surroundings are rocky bottom surrounding, with strong currents, with stormy weather it is a dangerous coast.
Santa Clara is the smallest of the mainland island
s in the Juan Fernández Islands
of Chile
. It is located 1.5 km from the south coast of Robinson Crusoe Island
. The island is 375 metres high and the terrain is dry.The climate is subtropical and strongly influenced by fluctuations in the general northward flow of the cold subantarctic Humboldt ocean current and the south east trade winds, that creates a high-winter and low-summer rainfall pattern and a stable temperature environment. The temperatures range throughout the year from 3-34ºC, with an annual mean of 15.4ºC .
There are no permanent sources of fresh water on the island
s. Vertebrates inhabiting both islets are birds, some of them endangered, make their nests on or visit the island.
The uninhabited island is part of the "Comuna" (municipality) in the province of Valparaiso where even Easter Island is managed.
The entire archipelago is a form of natural reserve called Reserva de la Biosfera (biosphere reserve) "Archipielago Juan Fernández" since 1977.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
in the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, off the coast of Robinson Crusoe Island
Robinson Crusoe Island
Robinson Crusoe Island , formerly known as Más a Tierra , or Aguas Buenas, is the largest island of the Chilean Juan Fernández archipelago, situated 674 kilometres west of South America in the South Pacific Ocean...
in a group of islands known as the Juan Fernández Islands
Juan Fernández Islands
The Juan Fernández Islands are a sparsely inhabited island group reliant on tourism and fishing in the South Pacific Ocean, situated about off the coast of Chile, and is composed of three main volcanic islands; Robinson Crusoe Island, Alejandro Selkirk Island and Santa Clara Island, the first...
. The island is of volcanic origin and is approximately 1 kilometre long and 600 metres wide. The island group is politically part of the South American country Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, and is administratively assigned to the Region of Valparaíso.
Isla Santa Clara is the smallest island of the Juan Fernandez Islands and has an area of about 2.2 sq. km. surrounded on south side by a reef. The highest point is 376 m. This volcanic islet is related to a group of three islands. It is located 1.5 km southwest of Isla Robinson Crusoe. Has a flat surface with a maximum altitude of 376 meters (Johow hill). For geomorphological characteristics and composition of its lavas, is postulated to be the first volcanic center which led to the emerged Robinson Crusoe Island and, therefore, of greater antiquity with 5.8 million years. The main economic activity is fishing of the spiny lobster, Jasus frontalis.
Santa Clara Island is generally desolate and barren, but in its eastern slope there are some trees, and in the northwest tip a periodical stream of water runs along the gorge, which reaches the sea.
The low vegetation has been eroded in the past by herds of goats up on the rocks.The native flora is characterized by low fire tolerance and poor adaptation to herbivore resistance.Ferals rabbits are the greatest threat because they exert devastating effects on the island’s habitats. The majority of the original vegetation on the island has been replaced by shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
s and grass
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
es.The vegetation
Vegetation
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
is a miniature mosaic of matorral
Matorral
Matorral is a Spanish word, along with tomillares, for shrubland, thicket or bushes. It is used in naming and describing a Mediterranean climate ecosystem in Southern Europe.-Mediterranean region:...
, barren rock, various size trees, and shrubs mixed with ferns and perennial herbs. Nearly all of Santa Clara is bundant in the introduced Rubus ulmifolius
Rubus ulmifolius
Rubus ulmifolius is a species of wild blackberry known by the English common name elmleaf blackberry or thornless blackberry and the Spanish common name zarzamora. It is native to Europe and North Africa, and it is widely known elsewhere as an introduced species and sometimes a noxious weed...
, Aristotelia chilensis
Aristotelia chilensis
Aristotelia chilensis is a species of the Elaeocarpaceae family native to the Valdivian temperate rainforests of Chile and adjacent regions of southern Argentina.- Description :...
, Ugni molinae
Ugni molinae
Ugni molinae, commonly known as Chilean guava, or strawberry myrtle, is a shrub native to Chile and adjacent regions of southern Argentina. The Mapuche Native American name is "Uñi"...
, Lantana camara
Lantana camara
Lantana camara, also known as Spanish Flag or West Indian Lantana, is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family, Verbenaceae, that is native to the American tropics. It has been introduced into other parts of the world as an ornamental plant and is considered an invasive species in many...
and Lonicera japonica some have the potential to be serious pests and dominates some areas, having fleshy fruits that are bird dispersed, many more in addition to the weeds, Danthonia collina, Stipa laevissima and Piptochaetium bicolor. Santa Clara includes volcanic rocks, and several small beaches, including some white sand beaches. At short distance from the western extremity of Santa Clara Island, there is a small rocky islet, in the tip south of the same islet, there is a sandbar composed of various rocks on water. Coming from the north, affects the island of Santa Clara the appearance of a cliff or escarpment, but approaching from the south, shows an eroded quirky aspect of conical mounds and rocks cut strangely. Access by boat to the island is dangerous because the strong sea breaks almost on all sides.
The island is slightly mountainous, and its surroundings are rocky bottom surrounding, with strong currents, with stormy weather it is a dangerous coast.
Santa Clara is the smallest of the mainland island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s in the Juan Fernández Islands
Juan Fernández Islands
The Juan Fernández Islands are a sparsely inhabited island group reliant on tourism and fishing in the South Pacific Ocean, situated about off the coast of Chile, and is composed of three main volcanic islands; Robinson Crusoe Island, Alejandro Selkirk Island and Santa Clara Island, the first...
of Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. It is located 1.5 km from the south coast of Robinson Crusoe Island
Robinson Crusoe Island
Robinson Crusoe Island , formerly known as Más a Tierra , or Aguas Buenas, is the largest island of the Chilean Juan Fernández archipelago, situated 674 kilometres west of South America in the South Pacific Ocean...
. The island is 375 metres high and the terrain is dry.The climate is subtropical and strongly influenced by fluctuations in the general northward flow of the cold subantarctic Humboldt ocean current and the south east trade winds, that creates a high-winter and low-summer rainfall pattern and a stable temperature environment. The temperatures range throughout the year from 3-34ºC, with an annual mean of 15.4ºC .
There are no permanent sources of fresh water on the island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s. Vertebrates inhabiting both islets are birds, some of them endangered, make their nests on or visit the island.
The uninhabited island is part of the "Comuna" (municipality) in the province of Valparaiso where even Easter Island is managed.
The entire archipelago is a form of natural reserve called Reserva de la Biosfera (biosphere reserve) "Archipielago Juan Fernández" since 1977.