Madre de Dios Island (Spanish: Isla Madre de Dios) is an island in the Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region, Chile. It is located West of the Trinidad Channel and Concepción Channel. Its area is 1,043 km². Madre de Dios Island is composed partly by limestone and has several natural caves discovered by cavers and scientists of "Terre" team. This is an exceptionnel karst area, with wht the called "Marble Glaciers".
In one of those caves called the "Cave of the whales" skelletons of ancient whales (2600 to 3500 BP) were discovered 10 to 30 meters above the sea level.
In another cave, named Cueva del Pacifico, unknown rock art was discovered in 2006. Many others caves near the coast were used by former See Nomads (Indians Kawesqar) for sepulture (a skull date back to 4500 BP). Some caves were used as temporary camp, even far inside island.
The island is protected since 2008 as a nature reserve by Chilean government.
Famous quotes containing the word island:
“Your kind doesn’t just kill men. You murder their spirits, you strangle their last breath of hope and freedom, so that you, the chosen few, can rule your slaves in ease and luxury. You’re a sadist just like the others, Heiser, with no resource but violence and no feeling but fear, the kind you’re feeling now. You’re drowning, Heiser, drowning in the ocean of blood around this barren little island you call the New Order.”
—Curtis Siodmak (1902–1988)