History
The island is currently uninhabited. There was formerly a penal settlement along the middle of the east coast, at 33°45′49″S 80°45′27″W / 33.76361°S 80.7575°W / -33.76361; -80.7575. About 20 buildings can be made out on detailed satellite images. The settlement was operative from 1909 to 1930. It initially housed 190 criminals. From 1927 to 1930, there were 160 political prisoners on the island.
In 1966 the Chilean government renamed Isla Más Afuera to Alejandro Selkirk Island, with Isla Más a Tierra becoming Robinson Crusoe Island. Alexander Selkirk was a Scottish sailor who was marooned as a castaway on Isla Más a Tierra (then uninhabited) from 1704 to 1709. His story of survival inspired the 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe.
Read more about this topic: Alejandro Selkirk Island
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