Isla Mujeres
Covering an area of only 4.22 km2, Isla Mujeres is a small Mexican island that is located approximately 13 km off the northeastern coast of the Yucat谩n Peninsula in the Caribbean Sea. The island serves as the meeting point of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Isla Mujeres is administered under the Isla Mujeres Municipality of the Mexican State of Quintana Roo.
Geography
Isla Mujeres measures about 7 km in length and has a maximum width of about 650 m at its widest point. The island experiences severely hot and humid summers with an average temperature between 24 and 30 掳C, with June to September as the hottest months. From mid-May to September, numerous whale sharks gather in the waters near the island. Several endangered sea turtles are also found here. The island is considered one of the 海角社区鈥檚 best places for catching sailfish.
Brief History
The history of the island dates back to 564-1516 CE when it was a part of the Maya province of Ekab. The island served as a sacred site for the Mayan people during the Pre-Columbian era. It was maintained as a sanctuary for Goddess Ixchel, who was the Mayan goddess of fertility and medicine. The Mayans also harvested salt from the various 鈥淪alinas鈥� (small salt lagoons). Salt was generally used as a currency for commercial goods along the entire Mayan region. It was also used for the preservation of medicines and food.
In 1517, the Spanish explorer Francisco Hern谩ndez de C贸rdoba arrived on the island and named it 鈥淚sla Mujeres鈥� (鈥淭he Island of Women鈥�) referring to the numerous golden, silver, and clay images of the Mayan goddess he found scattered throughout the island. Several Mayan ruins have recently been discovered by the National Institute of History and Anthropology in Mundaca Hacienda. In the early 1800s, the island served as a favorite place for pirates, and the notable buccaneers Jean Lafitte, Henry Morgan, and Hernan Mundaca spent much of their time on the island.
The Isla Mujeres Island can easily be reached by ferry boats from the city of Canc煤n. Many coral reefs are located near the island, particularly in the Garrafon Reef Park which is also a popular destination for tourists to enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling. The Canc煤n Underwater Museum is located on the western coast of Isla Mujeres.
