Catalina Island or Isla Catalina is a tropicalisland located 1.5 miles from the mainland on the south-east corner of the Dominican Republic, near La Altagracia and La Romana. It is an occasional destination for cruise ships on Caribbean routes. In particular, Costa Cruises has a private beach on the island. Their ships anchor offshore and transport passengers to shore via tender.[1]
The island itself is only 9.6 square kilometers in size, and is a diverse preservation of eco-systems including sand dunes, mangroves, and reefs. Formed out of coral stone, the island contains three overlapping plateaus. The highest elevation on the island is only 60 feet above sea level. The seas around the Island are rich in wildlife, with many species of birds and tropical marine fish, and there are large areas where natural sandbars offshore bring the depth to just a few feet.
History
Catalina Island.
The island was baptized "Santa Catalina" by Christopher Columbus, who visited it in May 1494.
William Kidd's Quedagh Merchant
On December 13, 2007, the shipwreck of a 17th-century merchant vessel was found at a depth of three meters roughly 70 meters off of the island. It has since been identified as the pirate Captain William Kidd's 1699 Quedagh Merchant, also known as the Cara Merchant, according to Kidd's original testimony during his trial prior to his hanging on May 23, 1701. A team of researchers from Indiana University led by Charles Beeker, Director of the Office of Underwater Science at Indiana University, first discovered the wreckage in 2007 and have since established a Marine Protected Area in an attempt to preserve both the archaeological remains of the shipwreck and its surrounding reef ecosystem. The famed shipwreck has been nominated as a Living Museum in the Sea. Living Museums in the Sea is a program started by Charles Beeker with the goal of protecting submerged cultural and biological resources around the world.
In a partnership with the Children's Museum of Indianapolis and the Oficina Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural Subacuático (ONPCS), Indiana University recovered one of the 26 cannons found on the wreckage of the Quedagh Merchant. The cannon is now on display at the "National Geographic: Treasures of the Earth" exhibit in Indianapolis. At the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indiana University students teach visitors about the Quedagh Merchant as well as the history of the country, maritime history, artifact conservation, and archaeology.
Tourism
The island is a popular destination, and ships travel daily to Catalina from La Romana to visit the beach, snorkel, and view the corals close to the shore.
Scuba diving
The Aquarium reef, Catalina Island
Catalina Island is a popular destination for scuba diving thanks to its coral reef and marine ecosystems. Dive sites include the Wall and the Aquarium; tropical fish that can be seen there include the sergeant major, damselfish, squirrelfish, and stingrays. There are weekly trips to Catalina 2019-12-10 at the Wayback Machine from Punta Cana.
^"Falling in Love With Catalina Island". Caribbean Journal. 2016-07-11. Retrieved 2020-10-22.
January 20, 2023
catalina, island, dominican, republic, catalina, island, isla, catalina, tropical, island, located, miles, from, mainland, south, east, corner, dominican, republic, near, altagracia, romana, occasional, destination, cruise, ships, caribbean, routes, particular. Catalina Island or Isla Catalina is a tropical island located 1 5 miles from the mainland on the south east corner of the Dominican Republic near La Altagracia and La Romana It is an occasional destination for cruise ships on Caribbean routes In particular Costa Cruises has a private beach on the island Their ships anchor offshore and transport passengers to shore via tender 1 Catalina Island La RomanaCatalina Island Dominican Republic beachCatalina Island La RomanaCatalina Island Dominican RepublicGeographyCoordinates18 21 36 N 69 00 17 W 18 36000 N 69 00472 W 18 36000 69 00472Area9 6 km2 3 7 sq mi Length4 5 km 2 8 mi Width3 0 km 1 86 mi Highest elevation60 ft 18 m Administration Dominican RepublicProvinceLa Romana Contents 1 Geography 2 History 2 1 William Kidd s Quedagh Merchant 3 Tourism 4 Scuba diving 5 See also 6 ReferencesGeography EditThe island itself is only 9 6 square kilometers in size and is a diverse preservation of eco systems including sand dunes mangroves and reefs Formed out of coral stone the island contains three overlapping plateaus The highest elevation on the island is only 60 feet above sea level The seas around the Island are rich in wildlife with many species of birds and tropical marine fish and there are large areas where natural sandbars offshore bring the depth to just a few feet History Edit Catalina Island The island was baptized Santa Catalina by Christopher Columbus who visited it in May 1494 William Kidd s Quedagh Merchant Edit On December 13 2007 the shipwreck of a 17th century merchant vessel was found at a depth of three meters roughly 70 meters off of the island It has since been identified as the pirate Captain William Kidd s 1699 Quedagh Merchant also known as the Cara Merchant according to Kidd s original testimony during his trial prior to his hanging on May 23 1701 A team of researchers from Indiana University led by Charles Beeker Director of the Office of Underwater Science at Indiana University first discovered the wreckage in 2007 and have since established a Marine Protected Area in an attempt to preserve both the archaeological remains of the shipwreck and its surrounding reef ecosystem The famed shipwreck has been nominated as a Living Museum in the Sea Living Museums in the Sea is a program started by Charles Beeker with the goal of protecting submerged cultural and biological resources around the world In a partnership with the Children s Museum of Indianapolis and the Oficina Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural Subacuatico ONPCS Indiana University recovered one of the 26 cannons found on the wreckage of the Quedagh Merchant The cannon is now on display at the National Geographic Treasures of the Earth exhibit in Indianapolis At the Children s Museum of Indianapolis Indiana University students teach visitors about the Quedagh Merchant as well as the history of the country maritime history artifact conservation and archaeology Tourism EditThe island is a popular destination and ships travel daily to Catalina from La Romana to visit the beach snorkel and view the corals close to the shore Scuba diving Edit The Aquarium reef Catalina Island Catalina Island is a popular destination for scuba diving thanks to its coral reef and marine ecosystems Dive sites include the Wall and the Aquarium tropical fish that can be seen there include the sergeant major damselfish squirrelfish and stingrays There are weekly trips to Catalina Archived 2019 12 10 at the Wayback Machine from Punta Cana See also EditIsla SaonaReferences Edit Falling in Love With Catalina Island Caribbean Journal 2016 07 11 Retrieved 2020 10 22 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Catalina Island Dominican Republic amp oldid 1123393818, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
