Flores Island | |
Etymology: | Noj Petén ("Big Island") |
Pushpin Map: | Guatemala |
Pushpin Mapsize: | 220 |
Coordinates: | 16.9294°N -89.8914°W<-- Administrative location --> |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Guatemala |
Subdivision Type1: | location |
Subdivision Name1: | Lake Petén Itzá |
Subdivision Type2: | Department |
Area Total Km2: | 4347,5 |
Elevation M: | 127 |
Population Total: | 44,706 |
Population Density Urban Km2: | 1,028 |
Demographics2 Info1: | |
Timezone1 Location: | America/Guatemala |
Geocode: | 7303734 |
Isla de Flores[1] [2] is an island located in Lake Petén Itzá, belongs to the Petén Department, Guatemala. The city of Flores is located on this island, which is part of the head of this department, next to the town of Santa Elena de la Cruz. It was formerly known by the natives as "Noj Petén" (also written "Noh Petén") which means "Big Island". The Spanish conquerors destroyed Noj Petén in the, leaving it abandoned until the .
It received the name Flores in honor of a prominent Guatemalan independence leader, called Cirilo Flores. The Island is located 127 meters above sea level, and is connected by a bridge to Santa Elena de la Cruz by a causeway.