The island was originally known as Piñas, Piñero Island, or Pineapple Island.[1] In the past, the island was used to cultivate pineapple and sugar cane crops.[1] Later on for years the island was abandoned and was practically a dumpster, because of which the residents of Joyuda began referring to it as Isla de los Ratones, (transl. Island of Mice) because of the amount of rodents that inhabited the island.[1]
During half of the twentieth century, the then owner of the Cerveceria India, Don Alfonso Valdés Cobián was one of the people in charge of the Island. During this time he began cleaning up the small isle.[1]
In 1988, the island was sold to MTV, who organized a fantasy island sweepstakes promoted by Cyndi Lauper. After several protests, nothing more was heard from MTV.[2]
Now, the custodians of the island are the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA) and Tourmarine, a private tourist company.[1] They have a cooperative agreement to help in the cleaning and trash collecting because of the DRNA lack of personnel.[1]
As part of the annual Tríalo de Joyuda en Cabo Rojo or Joyuda Triathlon in Cabo Rojo, one leg of the event consist of reaching the island and returning.[1]
Restoration
In 2005, Caborrojeños Pro Salud y Ambiente, an environmentalist organization undertook a restoration project on the island's north shore to try to stop erosion and sedimentation that is threatening the coral reef and mangrove forest that used to surround the island.[3] The island has lost approximately 45 percent of its area over the past 60 years due to coral bleaching, disease, and destruction of reefs by wave force and currents.[4] In 2006, the Inter American University of Puerto Rico received grant from NOAA and the Gulf of Mexico Foundation to implement a second phase of the restoration project.[5] Students, professors and members of Caborrojeños Pro Salud y Ambiente, under the direction of the DRNA, planted some 400 floating seeds of red mangrove that forms part of the ecological inventory that surrounds the island.[1] Approximately 0.25 acres (0.10 ha) of mangrove habitat was restored and 0.0091 acres (0.0037 ha) of artificial reef was created.
Gallery
PVC tubes to help spur mangrove growth on Isla de Ratones, 2006
isla, ratones, cabo, rojo, puerto, rico, island, ponce, isla, ratones, ponce, puerto, rico, isla, ratones, also, known, cayo, ratones, isla, ratones, spanish, mice, island, small, island, located, near, joyuda, lagoon, cabo, rojo, puerto, rico, island, popular. For the island in Ponce see Isla de Ratones Ponce Puerto Rico Isla de Ratones also known as Cayo Ratones or Isla Ratones Spanish for mice island is a small island located near the Joyuda Lagoon in Cabo Rojo Puerto Rico The island is a popular spot for snorkeling and bathing Isla de RatonesNickname RatonesIsla de Ratones with sun gleaming on the seaIsla de RatonesShow map of Puerto RicoIsla de RatonesShow map of Lesser AntillesIsla de RatonesShow map of CaribbeanGeographyCoordinates18 06 59 84 N 67 11 18 00 W 18 1166222 N 67 1883333 W 18 1166222 67 1883333Administration United States Puerto RicoTerritoryPuerto RicoMunicipalityCabo RojoBarrio WardJoyudaDemographicsPopulation0 Contents 1 History 2 Restoration 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditThe island was originally known as Pinas Pinero Island or Pineapple Island 1 In the past the island was used to cultivate pineapple and sugar cane crops 1 Later on for years the island was abandoned and was practically a dumpster because of which the residents of Joyuda began referring to it as Isla de los Ratones transl Island of Mice because of the amount of rodents that inhabited the island 1 During half of the twentieth century the then owner of the Cerveceria India Don Alfonso Valdes Cobian was one of the people in charge of the Island During this time he began cleaning up the small isle 1 In 1988 the island was sold to MTV who organized a fantasy island sweepstakes promoted by Cyndi Lauper After several protests nothing more was heard from MTV 2 Now the custodians of the island are the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources DRNA and Tourmarine a private tourist company 1 They have a cooperative agreement to help in the cleaning and trash collecting because of the DRNA lack of personnel 1 As part of the annual Trialo de Joyuda en Cabo Rojo or Joyuda Triathlon in Cabo Rojo one leg of the event consist of reaching the island and returning 1 Restoration EditIn 2005 Caborrojenos Pro Salud y Ambiente an environmentalist organization undertook a restoration project on the island s north shore to try to stop erosion and sedimentation that is threatening the coral reef and mangrove forest that used to surround the island 3 The island has lost approximately 45 percent of its area over the past 60 years due to coral bleaching disease and destruction of reefs by wave force and currents 4 In 2006 the Inter American University of Puerto Rico received grant from NOAA and the Gulf of Mexico Foundation to implement a second phase of the restoration project 5 Students professors and members of Caborrojenos Pro Salud y Ambiente under the direction of the DRNA planted some 400 floating seeds of red mangrove that forms part of the ecological inventory that surrounds the island 1 Approximately 0 25 acres 0 10 ha of mangrove habitat was restored and 0 0091 acres 0 0037 ha of artificial reef was created Gallery Edit PVC tubes to help spur mangrove growth on Isla de Ratones 2006See also EditList of islands of Puerto RicoReferences Edit a b c d e f g h Vargas Maelo August 18 2010 Bello Paraiso en Cabo Rojo Primera Hora in Spanish Puerto Rico Retrieved August 18 2010 Explore Puerto Rico Harry S Pariser 2002 p 274 ISBN 1 893643 52 2 Isla Ratones Mangrove and Reef Restoration Project Archived from the original on 2010 05 27 Retrieved 2009 04 13 Method to Rehabilitate Isla Ratones Presented Puerto Rico Star Archived from the original on 2010 07 07 Retrieved 2009 04 13 Siembra de mangles para no perder a Isla Ratones in Spanish Ciencia PR July 23 2006 Archived from the original on July 23 2011 Retrieved 2009 04 13 External links EditU S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Isla de Ratones Cabo Rojo Puerto Rico Coordinates 18 06 59 84 N 67 11 18 00 W 18 1166222 N 67 1883333 W 18 1166222 67 1883333 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Isla de Ratones Cabo Rojo Puerto Rico amp oldid 1115095381, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
