Saona Island

Saona Island (Spanish: Isla Saona) is a tropical island located off the south-east coast in Dominican Republic's La Altagracia province. It is a government-protected nature reserve and is part of Parque Nacional Cotubanamá.[1]

Saona
Native name:
Isla Saona
Saona Island
Saona
Saona Island (Dominican Republic)
Geography
LocationCaribbean Sea
Coordinates18°09′20″N 68°41′58″W
Area110 km2 (42 sq mi)
Length25 km (15.5 mi)
Width5 km (3.1 mi)
Coastline47 km (29.2 mi)
Highest elevation35 m (115 ft)
Administration
ProvinceLa Altagracia
Demographics
Population300
Pop. density2.73/km2 (7.07/sq mi)
Isla Saona Lighthouse
Constructionconcrete (tower) 
Height12 m (39 ft) 
Markingswhite (tower) 
Power sourcesolar power 
Focal height32 m (105 ft) 
Range16 nmi (30 km; 18 mi) 
CharacteristicFl W 10s 

The island is a popular destination for tourists from all over the Dominican Republic, who arrive in fleets of catamarans and small motorboats on organized excursions every day. It is known for its beaches, and has been used on a number of occasions by filmmakers and advertisers looking for a stereotypical "deserted island" setting for their film or product.

Etymology

Granberry and Vescelius (2004) suggest a Macoris etymology for the name Saona, comparing it with sa-ona 'full of bats' in the purportedly related Warao language of the Orinoco Delta.;[2] However, it is widely accepted that Columbus named it after the Italian city of Savona (see below).

History

The island was baptized "Saona" by Christopher Columbus, who landed on it in May 1494 during his second voyage to the Americas. The name was meant "... to honor Michele da Cuneo, [Columbus'] friend from Savona."[3] Columbus named Michele da Cuneo the first governor of the island.[4]

By 1500, the Tainos on the island provided Santo Domingo with most of its cassava.[5]

Saona Island and Savona (now part of Liguria, northern Italy) still have twinning relationships. The small power plant in Saona Island is a gift of Savona.

Geography

The seas around the Island are rich in wildlife, with many species of birds and tropical marine fish, and there are large areas where natural sandbars offshore bring the depth to just a few feet. Smaller speed boats stop for tourists to relax in the waist-deep shallows where they snorkel, and explore the fields of starfish indigenous to the region.

Near and around Saona island are coral reefs ecosystems with impressive marine diversity that attract snorkelers and scuba divers alike.

Tourism

As one of the most visited locations in the Dominican Republic, Saona offers visitors a unique variety of things to do, from sunbathing on turquoise beaches, to more adventurous activities such as snorkeling. Below is a list of some of the popular activities on Saona Island.

Beaches
Main article: Arecaceae

Beach lovers will feel right at home at Saona Island. One of the best ways to spend a day on the island is to explore the many beaches. One will see local vendors selling tropical arts and fresh piña coladas.

Snorkeling in Cotumbanama National Park

As part of the Cotumbana National Park, snorkeling is one of the popular activities on a Saona Island excursion. The corals reefs on the Caribbean are brimming with colorful fish.

Scuba diving around Saona Island

For underwater enthusiasts, one of the best ways to see the underwater beauty of Saona Island is by exploring the coral reefs. Divers will find an impressive system of coral fauna, and wrecks that abound with fish.

See also

References
  1. "Ley 5597 de 1962 que modifica la ley 5220 de 1959" (PDF).
  2. Granberry, Julian, & Gary Vescelius (2004). Languages of the Pre-Columbian Antilles. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press. ISBN 0-8173-5123-X.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Paolo Emilio Taviani, Columbus the Great Adventure, Orion Books, New York (1991) p. 185
  4. Felipe Fernández-Armesto, Columbus, Oxford Univ. Press, (1991) pp. 103-104.
  5. Floyd, Troy (1973). The Columbus Dynasty in the Caribbean, 1492-1526. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press. p. 57.
Panoramic view of Saona Island
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