| Pachacámac Islands | |
| Native Name: | Islas Pachacámac |
| Native Name Lang: | es |
| Sobriquet: | Whale Islands |
| Location: | Pacific Ocean (Mar de Grau) |
| Major Islands: | 2 |
| Country: | Peru |
| Country Admin Divisions Title: | Province |
| Country Admin Divisions: | Lima |
| Country Admin Divisions Title 1: | District |
| Country Admin Divisions 1: | Lurín |
The Pachacámac Islands (Spanish; Castilian: Islas Pachacámac), also known as Cavillaca Islands (Spanish; Castilian: Islas Cavillaca)[1] [2] or as Whale Islands (Spanish; Castilian: Isla Ballena), are a group of islands located in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Lurín District, in Lima Province, Peru. Its formed by two main islands (the 23,6 ha Pachacámac Island and the 7,05 ha Peñón Pachacámac) and three islets.
They are located about 3km (02miles) south of the mouth of the Lurín River and about 31 31km (19miles) from the city of Lima. The islands have a total area of 31.20 hectares and constitute the habitat of numerous species of seabirds.[3] For this reason, in 2009 the islands were protected by law within the Guano Islands, Islets, and Capes National Reserve System, a natural reserve that protects and conserves representative samples of the biological diversity of the marine-coastal ecosystems of Peru.
The Pachacámac Islands are oriented in a northwest–southeast direction and are under the influence of the cold waters of the Humboldt Current. They are located between 12º 17' and 12º 20' S latitude and 76° 53' W longitude. The main island, which gives its name to the entire island group, is Pachacámac Island. Of regular height and whitish color, it has an area of 23.6 hectares; and has a maximum length of 880m (2,890feet) and a width of around 430m (1,410feet).[4] Its closest point to the coast is 2 880km (550miles). Towards the north of this island is La Viuda, a small islet that appears when the waves and tide end up discovering it.[5]
The Peñón Pachacámac island, also called San Francisco islet, is shaped like a sugarloaf and is the second largest with an area of 7.05 hectares.[4] Between the San Francisco and Pachacámac islands is the El Sauce islet, a small cliff located 265 meters from the main island. Southeast of San Francisco is the Corcovado reef, where the group ends. It is a stand of rocks on the surface of the water, which extends approximately 1 km long and in which the sea bursts.[5] Viewed from a distance, the entire island complex resembles the silhouette of a gigantic whale emerging from the sea.
The Pachacámac Islands constitute an important biogeographic point, in terms of breeding places, for some species of seabirds such as the Chuita (Phalacrocorax gaimardi), the Cushuri (Phalacrocorax brasilianus), the Peruvian booby (Sula variegata) and the Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti).[3] Likewise, other species of birds can be observed, such as the guanay (Phalacrocorax bougainvillii), Peruvian pelican (Pelecanus thagus), Tendril (Larosterna inca), Peruvian gull (Larus belcheri), Dominican gull (Larus dominicanus), gull gray (Larus modestus), gray-hooded gull (Larus cirrocephalus), Franklin's gull (Larus pipixcan), red-headed buzzard (Cathartes aura), common oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), black oystercatcher (Haematopus ater), etc.
The underwater world of the Pachacámac Islands shows an impressive landscape and a lot of life, where fish and marine invertebrates are the most representative taxonomic groups. The most abundant species of fish are represented by the silverside (Odontesthes regia regia), lorna (Sciaena delicious), cabinza (Isacia conceptionis), cachema (Cynoscion analis), etc. Among the invertebrates are the snail (Thais chocolata), jaiva crab (Cancer porteri), hairy crab (Cancer setosus), etc.
On the other hand, in the group of marine mammals, 2 species have been recorded: the sea otter (Lontra felina) and the South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens), a species of sea lion that belongs to the Otariidae family.