Lobos de Tierra

Lobos de Tierra is a Peruvian island situated 19 km from the mainland close to the Illescas Peninsula and the boundary between the departments of Piura and Lambayeque regions.^[1] Its area is 16 km²,^[1] its approximate length is 10 km, and its approximate width is 3 km. Around the island there are several islets such as El León and Albatros. It is part of Peru’s Guano Islands, Islets, and Capes National Reserve System.

Lobos de Tierra Island

Isla Lobos de Tierra (Spanish)
Satellite view of the island.
Lobos de Tierra Island Location of the island
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	6°25′40″S 80°51′29″W
Area	16 km2 (6.2 sq mi)[1]
Length	10 km (6 mi)
Width	3 km (1.9 mi)
Administration
Peru
Region	Lambayeque
Additional information
Time zone	PET (UTC-5)

History

In 1863 the island was estimated to have guano deposits of almost 7 million metric tons,^[2] which were then exploited without any control. The number proved to be an overestimate^[2] and today that wealth has almost disappeared and the little remaining guano does not have the same quality as before.

Environment

The climate of Lobos de Tierra is warm and dry. It owes its name to its proximity to the coast and the presence of eared seals ("lobo marino" in Spanish, or "sea wolves"). At times blue whales can be seen.^[3]

The island is home to birds such as the kelp gulls,^[4] boobies^[5][6] and cormorants^[5] who were the primary producers during the heyday of guano collecting. It has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports significant populations of resident or breeding seabirds, including Humboldt penguins, Peruvian diving-petrels, Peruvian pelicans, blue-footed and Peruvian boobies, and red-legged and guanay cormorants.^[7]

See also

• List of islands of Peru
• Guano Islands, Islets, and Capes National Reserve System