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:
“The shifting islands! who would not be willing that his house should be undermined by such a foe! The inhabitant of an island can tell what currents formed the land which he cultivates; and his earth is still being created or destroyed. There before his door, perchance, still empties the stream which brought down the material of his farm ages before, and is still bringing it down or washing it away,—the graceful, gentle robber!”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)