Gatas (Ponce)

Gatas or, more commonly, Isla de Gatas, is a small island in barrio Playa in the municipality of Ponce in southern Puerto Rico. A tied island since the 1950s connected to the Puerto Rico mainland via a tombolo, Isla de Gatas is home to Club Náutico de Ponce, a private sports complex. It is located south of La Guancha and the Port of Ponce. Together with Caja de Muertos, Morrillito, Ratones, Cardona, Isla del Frio, and Isla de Jueyes, Gatas is one of seven islands in the municipality of Ponce.[1][2]

Isla de Gatas
Isla de Gatas on the left and its connection to the mainland
Isla de Gatas is located in Puerto Rico
Isla de Gatas
Isla de Gatas
Geography
LocationPonce, Puerto Rico
Coordinates17°57′49″N 66°37′05″W
Area0.053 km2 (0.020 sq mi)
Administration
CommonwealthPuerto Rico
MunicipalityPonce
BarrioPlaya
Demographics
Population0
Pop. density0/km2 (0/sq mi)

Location and geography

While geographically it is considered an island on its own right,[3] Gatas is actually physically attached to the Puerto Rico mainland, thanks to the construction of a dike in the 1950s. In this sense, it is now a cape more than an island in the strictest sense.[4] The dike grew the original one-acre island to the current 13 acres (5.261 hectares).[5]

Gatas is located at latitude 17°57'49"N and longitude -66°37'05" (Latitude. 17.96944°, Longitude. -66.6175°)[6] The island, located 0.12 mi (0.2 km) south of the mainland Puerto Rican shore across from Punta Peñoncillo, extends 0.31 mi (0.5 km) west from Punta Caranero to the east.[7][8]

The island has an elevation of 10 feet,[9] and it has a beach on the western side.

Development

The island is a small low island and fully developed thanks to the construction of the Club Nautico de Ponce and its marina.

See also

References
  1. Neysa Rodriguez Deynes. Brevario Sobre la Historia de Ponce. Second Edition. Government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. 2002. Page 9. Printed by Impress Quality Printing, Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
  2. CityMelt. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  3. Bahia de Ponce and Approaches. BookletChart. Chart Number 25683. US Government. NOAA. Archived 28 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  4. Isla de Gata, PR. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  5. Yacht Club of the Month: Ponce Yacht and Fishing Club. All at Sea:Caribbean. September 2006. Archived 25 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  6. Traveling Luck:Ponce Yacht Club. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  7. West Indies Pilot, Volume 1. United States Hydrographic Office. Page 599. Fourth Edition: 1922. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  8. Bookletchart: Bahia de Ponce and Approaches. Archived 28 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine U.S. Navy. Chart number 9. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  9. Isla de Gata, PR. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
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