Mouro Island

Mouro Island (Spanish: Isla de Mouro), originally Mogro Island (Isla de Mogro), is a small uninhabited island in the Bay of Biscay, located off the Magdalena Peninsula. It lies close to the entrance to the Bay of Santander near the city of Santander, Cantabria along the north coast of Spain. The island is approximately 2 hectares (0.02km²) and lies about .75 km (.5 mi) from the entrance to the harbor.[1][2]

Mouro Island
Native name:
Isla de Mouro
Mouro Island in 2014
Mouro Island
Geography
LocationBay of Santander
Coordinates43.473421°N 3.755768°W / 43.473421; -3.755768
Area2 ha (4.9 acres)
Highest elevation27.5 m (90.2 ft)
Administration
CitySantander, Spain
Autonomous community Cantabria
ComarcaBay of Santander
Demographics
Population0

History
Mouro Island from the northeast, with Santander in the background and the small Corbera Islet in the foreground

The original name of the island, found in 16th-century documents, was Mogro Island. In the 18th century, a transcription error by cartographer Vicente Tofiño de San Miguel changed the name to Mouro Island.[3]

In July 1812, during the Peninsular War, Spanish ally Great Britain captured the island from Napoleon's forces, allowing the Spanish ships to make landfall at Sardinero.

The only structure on the island is a 19th-century lighthouse, which is now automated. Until 1921, it was occupied by two lighthouse keepers, who were often isolated by storms. In 1865, one of the keepers was swept out to sea during a storm and drowned. In 1895, one of the keepers died suddenly, but due to the storm, his body was not able to be evacuated for some time. Another death was recorded when the son of a lighthouse keeper slipped when he was about to step onto the rocky island and died.[3]

In February 2014, a spectacular photograph of a wave crashing over the lighthouse appeared in newspapers around the world, including on the cover of the International New York Times.[3]

Plants and wildlife
Waves crashing into Mouro Island

Mouro Island has a high biodiversity of fish and plant life in its waters, with more than 39 species of fish found nearby. It was declared a marine reserve in 1986, with a perimeter extending to 300 meters surrounding the island. Plants found on the island include heath (Erica vagans), gorse (ulex), broom (genisteae) and the eagle fern (Pteridium aquilinum).[4] Carpobrotus edulis is also found on the island, thought to be brought there by a lighthouse keeper.

Mouro Island is an important habitat for seabirds, particularly European storm petrels and herring gulls. In 2014, Spain's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment declared Mouro Island to be a Special Protection Area (SPA) to ensure the conservation of the birds that inhabit this area. It was estimated that fewer than 150 of the storm petrel lived in the area. It is illegal to bring cats, rats and other mammals onto the island. A smaller islet to the northwest, Islote la Corbera, is also part of the protected area.[5]

World Oceans Day

An annual swim and scuba diving event is held around Mouro Island to mark World Oceans Day each June. It features an island "hugging" event, in which surfers and kayakers completely encircle the island. The event is held to raise awareness of the importance of conserving the seas and oceans.[6]

  • Yacht race in 2009
  • Island with lighthouse and lodgings, as seen in 2013
  • View of the island as seen from Sardinero
  • Waves crash over the lighthouse

See also

References
  1. Anonym, Anonym (1854). Atlantic Navigator. p. 62. ISBN 9783861951704. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  2. Bay of Biscay Pilot, West Coast of France and the North Coast of Spain from Ushant to Cape Toriñana. United States Hydrographic Office. 1917. p. 447. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  3. Méndez, Julián (16 February 2014). "El faro que se ve en todo mundo" (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  4. "Boletín Oficial de Cantabria". cantabria.es. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  5. "La isla de Mouro ya es oficialmente refugio de aves". El Diario Montanes (in Spanish). 17 July 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  6. "La travesía a nado y un abrazo a la Isla de Mouro, este domingo por el Día de los Océanos". El Diario. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
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