Malpelo Island

Malpelo is a rocky island.

It sits in the Pacific Ocean. It is near Colombia. The island has three high peaks. It is a very steep place.

Many birds live on the rocks. Their droppings help small plants grow. You can also see many sharks in the water. Some sharks swim in big groups. It is a special place to see sea life.

Malpelo is an island in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

It sits west of the coast of Colombia. The island is a steep and bare rock. It has three high peaks. The tallest peak is called Cerro de la Mona.

The island sits on a long underwater ridge. This ridge is called the Malpelo Ridge.

No people live on the island. It was once part of Spain. Later, it belonged to Peru. Now, it belongs to Colombia.

At first, the island looks empty. But bird droppings help small things grow. You can find moss, ferns, and small shrubs. Three kinds of lizards live there too. A special land crab also lives on the rocks.

The water around the island is full of life. Many birds live on the cliffs. You might see 60,000 to 110,000 Nazca boobies there. Divers love to visit the island. They go to see big groups of sharks. You can see hundreds of silky sharks. You can also see swarms of 500 hammerhead sharks. Because it is so special, UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site.

Malpelo Island is a remote place in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

It sits far west of the mainland of Colombia. The island is a steep and barren rock that rises from the sea. It is the only part of the Malpelo Ridge that reaches above the water. This ridge is a long, volcanic line under the ocean. The island has three high peaks. The tallest one is named Cerro de la Mona.

Nearby, you can find several smaller rocks in the deep water. These include the Tres Mosqueteros to the northeast. To the southwest, there are rocks named Salomón, Saúl, La Gringa, and Escuba.

The island was made by volcanic activity millions of years ago. It is made of things like basaltic dikes and pillow lavas. Scientists say these rocks are between 16 and 17 million years old. The island was created by a complex interaction in the earth. This involved the Galápagos hotspot and the Cocos-Nazca Spreading Centre. Because it rose from the ocean floor, it was never connected to any mainland. It has always been a solitary place in the middle of the sea.

People have not lived on Malpelo for a long time. It was likely isolated from humans before Europeans found it. We do not know the exact date of its discovery. However, it appeared on Peruvian maps as early as 1530. After it was found, Spain took possession of the island. Later, Peru annexed it, and eventually, it became part of Colombia. In 1704, an English vessel named the Cinque Ports wrecked there. Many people have visited the island since then, including James Colnett in 1793.

Even though the rock looks bare, life finds a way to grow there. Bird guano, which is bird droppings, provides nutrients for plants. This helps moss, lichens, ferns, and small shrubs grow on the rock. There are three kinds of lizards on the island. These include Agassiz's anole and the Colombian leaf-toed gecko. A unique land crab called Johngarthia malpilensis also lives there. High above, between 60,000 and 110,000 Nazca boobies may breed on the cliffs.

The ocean around Malpelo is full of amazing animals. It is a very popular place for people to go diving. Divers often see swarms of 500 hammerhead sharks. They also see hundreds of silky sharks in the water. The island is part of a huge protected area. This no-fishing zone covers over 850,000 hectares. Because it is so important for sharks, UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site. This helps keep the many living things there safe.

Malpelo Island is a remote oceanic island located in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

It sits far to the west of the Colombian mainland. The island consists of a steep and barren rock formation. It features three high peaks, with the highest being the Cerro de la Mona. Malpelo is the only part of the Malpelo Ridge that rises above the ocean surface. This ridge is a solitary volcanic submarine ridge. It extends in a northeast-southwest direction. The island is surrounded by deep water and several offshore rocks.

The map shows how the island sits within its maritime environment.

The geology of Malpelo is the result of complex tectonic processes. The island is composed of Miocene pillow lavas and volcanic breccias. It also contains basaltic dikes, which are vertical sheets of rock. These geological features date back to between 16 and 17 million years ago. The island and the Malpelo Ridge formed during the Late Miocene. This happened due to a complex interaction in the Earth. Specifically, the Cocos-Nazca Spreading Centre interacted with the Galápagos hotspot. Because it is an oceanic island, it was never connected to a mainland. It has always remained isolated from other landmasses.

While the island looks like a bare rock, it supports a unique ecosystem. Most of the surface is very steep and lacks thick soil. However, deposits of bird guano provide essential nutrients. Guano is the waste produced by birds. This organic matter allows algae, lichens, and mosses to grow. Some small shrubs and ferns have also established themselves. The island is home to three specific species of lizards. These include Agassiz's anole, the Dotted galliwasp, and the Colombian leaf-toed gecko. A unique land crab, Johngarthia malpilensis, also lives there. This species was first described by scientists in 1893.

Malpelo is also a vital location for many bird species. It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. The island supports massive breeding populations of Nazca boobies. Estimates from 2007 suggest there are between 60,000 and 110,000 of these birds. The presence of these large colonies helps maintain the nutrient cycle on the island. This cycle is driven by the guano mentioned earlier. Without the birds, the small amount of plant life might not survive. The birds and the plants are closely linked in this harsh environment.

The waters surrounding the island are famous for their marine life. Malpelo is a very popular location for shark-diving expeditions. Divers frequently observe swarms of 500 hammerhead sharks. They also see hundreds of silky sharks in the area. It is one of the few places where the smalltooth sand tiger shark is seen alive. This often happens at a dive site called "El bajo del Monstruo." Other fish species in these waters include Sailfish, Marlin, and Dorado. The area also hosts Albacore, Tollo Sharks, and Hammerhead Sharks.

The history of Malpelo involves many different nations. It was likely isolated from human contact before European discovery. It may have been one of the first remote Pacific islands found by Europeans. Peruvian maps from 1530 show the island. Following its discovery, Spain took possession of the territory. Later, the island was annexed by Peru. Eventually, it became part of Colombia. Many people have visited over the centuries. James Colnett visited in 1793, and an English vessel named the Cinque Ports wrecked there in 1704.

Today, Malpelo is a heavily protected marine environment. It is part of the Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary. This sanctuary is a protected area for plants and animals. The island is also surrounded by a massive no-fishing zone. This zone measures over 850,000 hectares. In 2006, UNESCO declared Malpelo a natural World Heritage Site. This status was granted because of its importance as a shark reserve. The Colombian government uses its Armed Forces to defend a military post there. Protecting this biodiversity remains a major priority for organizations like the Fundación Malpelo y Otros Ecosistemas Marinos.