Robinson Crusoe Island

Robinson Crusoe Island (), formerly known as Juan Fernandez Island, Más a Tierra (Closer to land), 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 archipelago is made up of three islands, Robinson Crusoe, Alejandro Selkirk and the small Santa Clara.

Geography

The island has a mountainous and undulating terrain, formed by ancient lava flows which have built up from numerous volcanic episodes. The highest point on the island is 3,005 ft (916m) above sea level at El Yunque. Intense erosion has resulted in the formation of steep valleys and ridges. A narrow peninsula is formed in the southwestern part of the island called Cordon Escarpado. The island of Santa Clara is 1.5 km from the coast off the southern part of the island. The western end of the island is lower and drier than the other parts. The climate is distinctly Mediterranean, with clearly defined warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters.

Geology

The island sits to the west of the boundary between the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate.

Flora and fauna

As World Biosphere Reserves since 1977, these islands have been considered of maximum scientific importance because of the endemic species of flora and fauna (101 of the 146 native species of plants are endemic.) The Magellanic Penguin is found at Robinson Crusoe Island.C. Michael Hogan (2008)...
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