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The Island of the Dolls

January 01, 1970

The Island of the Dolls (Spanish: La Isla de las Muñecas) is a chinampa of the Laguna de Tequila located in the channels of Xochimilco, south of the center of Mexico City, Mexico. It is notable for the multitude of dolls of various styles and colors that can be found throughout the island. Local legends surround the dolls and the island's reclusive former owner, Don Julián Santana Barrera, making the island a popular destination for dark tourism.[1]

Barrera's dolls on La Isla de las Muñecas, Mexico City

History edit

 
Dolls seen from the lake

In the mid-20th century, Barrera began to collect dolls and hang them around the small island. The island gained notoriety in 1943 when Mexican director Emilio Fernández used it as the location of the film María Candelaria.[2]

After Barrera's death in 2001, his family opened the island to the public as a tourist attraction. In addition to the hundreds of dolls,[3] the grounds host three huts, and a small museum with articles from local newspapers about both the island and the previous owner. In the one-room hut Barrera slept in, the first doll Barrera collected is displayed, as well as Agustina, his favorite doll.[4][5][6]

The Island of the Dolls is accessible to the public by gondola-like boats referred to as trajineras.[7] Most rowers are willing to transport people to the island, but there are those who refuse out of superstition.[8] The journey often includes a tour of the Ecological Area, Ajolote Museum, Apatlaco Canal, Teshuilo Lagoon and Llorona Island.[9]

Legend edit

Barrera is said to have either come across the body of a young girl floating in the canals or failed to save her from drowning.[10][11] The next day, Barrera found a doll drifting down the canal; believing it belonged to the girl, he hung the doll from a tree in her memory and as a talisman to ward off evil spirits. It is sometimes claimed that Barrera found a second doll in the canal the next day.[11][6] It is speculated that after her death the young girl's spirit haunted the island, and to appease her Barrera began scouring the trash and trading produce from his garden in exchange for more dolls.[12] Evidence of the girl's existence has yet to be reported.[12]

In 2001, Barrera's nephew came to the island to help his uncle. As they fished in the canal, Barrera, then 80, sang passionately, claiming that mermaids in the water were calling for him. The nephew left briefly, and upon his return found Barrera lifeless, face down in the canal, in the same spot where the girl was said to have drowned.[13][12]

Since the island became open to the public, there have been reports of the dolls moving their heads, arms, and opening their eyes. Visitors also claim to have heard the dolls whispering to each other.[14]

Visitors occasionally place offerings around the dolls in exchange for miracles and blessings. Some change the dolls's clothes and maintain the island as a form of worship.[15]

 
Oldest doll in the Isla de las Muñecas, in Xochimilco, Mexico City

In media edit

The island has been featured on the Travel Channel show Ghost Adventures,[16] and the Amazon Prime show Lore. It was also featured on BuzzFeed Unsolved, where host Shane Madej, a firm skeptic of the paranormal, asserted that he believes the legends about the island.[17] The island was also used for the episode "Estas son Las Mañanitas" (season 1, episode 10) of the Spanish TV comedy Nosotros los guapos for Televisa, where the main characters Vítor and Albertano are left behind on the island by an irritated Doña Cuca, and as night falls, they are rescued by the local emergency crews and end up on the news. In 2020, Josh Gates's researchers, Phil Torres & Jessica Chobot did an episode for the show Expedition X at the location with paranormal investigator Jason Hawes of the show Ghost Hunters [18] The premiere episode (Season 1, Episode 1; December 1, 2023) of The Unbelievable with Dan Aykroyd on the History Channel (U.S.) features the island.

References edit

  1. ^ "Tanatoturismo, fascinación por la muerte... y los viajes". El Financiero (in Spanish). 2019-10-31. from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  2. ^ . Rincón Abstracto. 15 November 2011. Archived from the original on Sep 19, 2021.
  3. ^ Nicolás, Araceli (2023-05-16). "Una muñeca de Tim Burton y otra marcada por Lady Gaga ahuyentan espíritus en la Isla de las Muñecas". Uno TV (in Mexican Spanish). from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  4. ^ Froelich, Paula (2021-10-30). "Real story behind 'haunted' Island of the Dolls in Mexico". Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  5. ^ "Some Of The World's Most Outrageous Tourist Attractions". Oddee. 2021-07-07. from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  6. ^ a b "Isla De Las Muñecas: Øya med de hviskende dukkene". www.abcnyheter.no (in Norwegian). 2020-02-20. from the original on 2023-08-20. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  7. ^ "Visit Isla de las Munecas – Isla de las Muñecas". from the original on 2023-06-21. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  8. ^ "Isla de las Muñecas (Island of the Dolls) in Mexico". Island of the Dolls. from the original on Feb 15, 2023.
  9. ^ . Piso de Exhibición. February 2009. Archived from the original on Nov 25, 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  10. ^ "Mexico's Horrific Island Of Dolls Will Haunt Your Dreams". HuffPost. 2014-08-14. from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  11. ^ a b Elborough, Travis; Horsfield, Alan (2016). Atlas of Improbable Places: A journey to the world's most unusual corners. Aurium Press. pp. 186–188. ISBN 9781781317631.
  12. ^ a b c Foer, Joshua; Thuras, Dylan; Morton, Ella (2016). Atlas Obscura: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Hidden Wonders. New York, NY: Workman Publishing Inc. p. 414. ISBN 978-0-7611-6908-6.
  13. ^ . 2011-07-22. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  14. ^ "Isla de las Muñecas – The Island of the Dolls". from the original on 2023-06-04. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  15. ^ "The haunting story of the man who built the Island of Dolls". Guinness World Records. 2022-10-26. from the original on 2023-05-09. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  16. ^ "Island of the Dolls". Travel Channel. from the original on 2018-08-24. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  17. ^ Flores Farfán, Sebastián (April 17, 2001). [The man of the Dolls of Xochimilco died] (in Spanish). Xochimilco, Mexico City: Borough of Xochimilco. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
  18. ^ Channel, Discovery. "Island of the lost Dolls". discovery channel. discovery channel.

External links edit

  • Terror on Doll Island - Expedition X - Discovery Channel
  • La isla de las muñecas (1998) - IMDb
  • Brocarde explores The Island of Dolls - Brocarde
  • Island of the Dead Dolls, Parque Ecológico de Xochimilco 16036 Mexico City, CDMX Mexico - Google Maps
  • Escape to the Island of the Dolls - Ripley's Believe It or Not!
  • The Island Of The Dolls Presents: A Toy's Horror Story - Horror World

19°17′24″N 99°05′47″W / 19.2901°N 99.0965°W / 19.2901; -99.0965

January 01, 1970
island, dolls, spanish, isla, muñecas, chinampa, laguna, tequila, located, channels, xochimilco, south, center, mexico, city, mexico, notable, multitude, dolls, various, styles, colors, that, found, throughout, island, local, legends, surround, dolls, island, . The Island of the Dolls Spanish La Isla de las Munecas is a chinampa of the Laguna de Tequila located in the channels of Xochimilco south of the center of Mexico City Mexico It is notable for the multitude of dolls of various styles and colors that can be found throughout the island Local legends surround the dolls and the island s reclusive former owner Don Julian Santana Barrera making the island a popular destination for dark tourism 1 Barrera s dolls on La Isla de las Munecas Mexico City Contents 1 History 2 Legend 3 In media 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp Dolls seen from the lake In the mid 20th century Barrera began to collect dolls and hang them around the small island The island gained notoriety in 1943 when Mexican director Emilio Fernandez used it as the location of the film Maria Candelaria 2 After Barrera s death in 2001 his family opened the island to the public as a tourist attraction In addition to the hundreds of dolls 3 the grounds host three huts and a small museum with articles from local newspapers about both the island and the previous owner In the one room hut Barrera slept in the first doll Barrera collected is displayed as well as Agustina his favorite doll 4 5 6 The Island of the Dolls is accessible to the public by gondola like boats referred to as trajineras 7 Most rowers are willing to transport people to the island but there are those who refuse out of superstition 8 The journey often includes a tour of the Ecological Area Ajolote Museum Apatlaco Canal Teshuilo Lagoon and Llorona Island 9 Legend editBarrera is said to have either come across the body of a young girl floating in the canals or failed to save her from drowning 10 11 The next day Barrera found a doll drifting down the canal believing it belonged to the girl he hung the doll from a tree in her memory and as a talisman to ward off evil spirits It is sometimes claimed that Barrera found a second doll in the canal the next day 11 6 It is speculated that after her death the young girl s spirit haunted the island and to appease her Barrera began scouring the trash and trading produce from his garden in exchange for more dolls 12 Evidence of the girl s existence has yet to be reported 12 In 2001 Barrera s nephew came to the island to help his uncle As they fished in the canal Barrera then 80 sang passionately claiming that mermaids in the water were calling for him The nephew left briefly and upon his return found Barrera lifeless face down in the canal in the same spot where the girl was said to have drowned 13 12 Since the island became open to the public there have been reports of the dolls moving their heads arms and opening their eyes Visitors also claim to have heard the dolls whispering to each other 14 Visitors occasionally place offerings around the dolls in exchange for miracles and blessings Some change the dolls s clothes and maintain the island as a form of worship 15 nbsp Oldest doll in the Isla de las Munecas in Xochimilco Mexico CityIn media editThe island has been featured on the Travel Channel show Ghost Adventures 16 and the Amazon Prime show Lore It was also featured on BuzzFeed Unsolved where host Shane Madej a firm skeptic of the paranormal asserted that he believes the legends about the island 17 The island was also used for the episode Estas son Las Mananitas season 1 episode 10 of the Spanish TV comedy Nosotros los guapos for Televisa where the main characters Vitor and Albertano are left behind on the island by an irritated Dona Cuca and as night falls they are rescued by the local emergency crews and end up on the news In 2020 Josh Gates s researchers Phil Torres amp Jessica Chobot did an episode for the show Expedition X at the location with paranormal investigator Jason Hawes of the show Ghost Hunters 18 The premiere episode Season 1 Episode 1 December 1 2023 of The Unbelievable with Dan Aykroyd on the History Channel U S features the island References edit Tanatoturismo fascinacion por la muerte y los viajes El Financiero in Spanish 2019 10 31 Archived from the original on 2023 07 03 Retrieved 2023 07 03 La Isla de las Munecas causa terror en Xochimilco Mexico Rincon Abstracto 15 November 2011 Archived from the original on Sep 19 2021 Nicolas Araceli 2023 05 16 Una muneca de Tim Burton y otra marcada por Lady Gaga ahuyentan espiritus en la Isla de las Munecas Uno TV in Mexican Spanish Archived from the original on 2023 07 03 Retrieved 2023 07 03 Froelich Paula 2021 10 30 Real story behind haunted Island of the Dolls in Mexico Retrieved 2023 09 17 Some Of The World s Most Outrageous Tourist Attractions Oddee 2021 07 07 Archived from the original on 2023 07 03 Retrieved 2023 07 03 a b Isla De Las Munecas Oya med de hviskende dukkene www abcnyheter no in Norwegian 2020 02 20 Archived from the original on 2023 08 20 Retrieved 2023 07 03 Visit Isla de las Munecas Isla de las Munecas Archived from the original on 2023 06 21 Retrieved 2023 07 04 Isla de las Munecas Island of the Dolls in Mexico Island of the Dolls Archived from the original on Feb 15 2023 Los canales de Xochimilco Piso de Exhibicion February 2009 Archived from the original on Nov 25 2018 Retrieved 1 December 2018 Mexico s Horrific Island Of Dolls Will Haunt Your Dreams HuffPost 2014 08 14 Archived from the original on 2023 07 02 Retrieved 2023 07 02 a b Elborough Travis Horsfield Alan 2016 Atlas of Improbable Places A journey to the world s most unusual corners Aurium Press pp 186 188 ISBN 9781781317631 a b c Foer Joshua Thuras Dylan Morton Ella 2016 Atlas Obscura An Explorer s Guide to the World s Hidden Wonders New York NY Workman Publishing Inc p 414 ISBN 978 0 7611 6908 6 Isla de las munecas Delegacion Xochimilco 2011 07 22 Archived from the original on 2011 07 22 Retrieved 2023 07 02 Isla de las Munecas The Island of the Dolls Archived from the original on 2023 06 04 Retrieved 2023 07 02 The haunting story of the man who built the Island of Dolls Guinness World Records 2022 10 26 Archived from the original on 2023 05 09 Retrieved 2023 05 09 Island of the Dolls Travel Channel Archived from the original on 2018 08 24 Retrieved 2018 08 24 Flores Farfan Sebastian April 17 2001 Murio el senor de las Munecas de Xochimilco The man of the Dolls of Xochimilco died in Spanish Xochimilco Mexico City Borough of Xochimilco Archived from the original on July 22 2011 Retrieved February 25 2011 Channel Discovery Island of the lost Dolls discovery channel discovery channel External links editTerror on Doll Island Expedition X Discovery Channel La isla de las munecas 1998 IMDb Brocarde explores The Island of Dolls Brocarde Island of the Dead Dolls Parque Ecologico de Xochimilco 16036 Mexico City CDMX Mexico Google Maps Escape to the Island of the Dolls Ripley s Believe It or Not The Island Of The Dolls Presents A Toy s Horror Story Horror World 19 17 24 N 99 05 47 W 19 2901 N 99 0965 W 19 2901 99 0965 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Island of the Dolls amp oldid 1217173290, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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