Isla Desecheo: Puerto Rico
Sunset in Isla Desecheo, Puerto Rico.
Desecheo is a small uninhabited island located on the west side of Puerto Rico, and claimed by the USA, but also in interest by Cuba, and disputed between both countries. In former times, during the Cuba Problem, the US Mariners had a station on the island, which seems to be abandoned today. Desecheo is steep-sided and rocky and rises to 715 ft.
The island of Desecheo is about 1.1 miles. There are several small islets around Desecheo, like El Murro, a group of three larger steep-sided rocks, 100 to 145 ft high, located offshore the western side, or Islotes Dos Piedras, on the east side. Landing is possible in several places during calm sea, like in Puerto Canoitas on the south side, or Puerto Manolillo, a wide open bay on the west side.
The best landing place is Puerto de Lobo Botes, a deep bay on the southwestern side of the island. In the vicinity of that bay, several houses are located on a tableland, 400 ft above the sea. A ruined and abandoned lighthouse stands near Punta Culebrón, 400 meters east of this bay. Desecheo seems to have been discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, but not named. The preset name was given by Nuñez Alvarez de Aragon in 1517. Since 1983 the island has been a nature reserve, but frequently used by modern pirates as a base.
In 1989 a US yacht was entered by unknown pirates and the sailors were brought to Desecheo. After 3 weeks the people were transferred to Isla Mona and got freedom. Desecheo: 360-acre island is located approximately 14 miles west of the northwest corner of Puerto Rico. Desecheo is a rugged, rocky island with its highest peak reaching 676 feet. It was, at one time, the site of the largest Red-footed and Brown Booby nesting colony in the Caribbean. It is now nearly deserted due to extensive disturbance from exotic rhesus monkeys and feral goats. Desecheo is home to 3 endemic lizards and the endangered cactus, Harrisia Portoricensis.
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