Đảo Santa Cruz del Islote The size of two football fields, but with more than 500 people living and no toilets or wastewater collection system.The island has the highest population density in the world located in the Gulf of Morrosquillo, northern Colombia, under the administration of the city government of Cartagena.150 years ago, the island was just a mass of rock less than the size of a football field. Colombian fishermen at that time often came here to rest or take shelter during storms.Over time, people began to move to the island to settle. They built houses and expanded the island by using seashells, sand, tree trunks, and trash to encroach on the sea, doubling the island’s area to about 0.12 km2, equivalent to the size of two football fields.About 65% population on the island is a person under 18 years old. Santa Cruz del Islote has no toilets or wastewater treatment system, cannot grow crops or raise livestock, and the main food source is fish caught at sea.Water, food, and necessities are all transported from the mainland to the island. The island also has no cemetery, so the dead are brought to another island for burial.Although there are 97 houses, the islanders lack the means to produce their own drinking water, so the Colombian Navy has to bring in drinking water.However, Navy services often cannot reach the island as planned, forcing residents to rely on barrels to collect rainwater for daily use.There are very few basic medical facilities on the island. There is only one medical center with one nurse and some outdated equipment on the island and a doctor who visits every two weeks.In case of serious illness or emergency, islanders will pool their resources to pay for the boat ride to the mainland. However, this approach depends on boat availability and weather conditions.Power on the island is also in short supply and they have to rely on diesel generators and solar panels. The surprising thing is that even though there are nearly a hundred houses, the crime rate is so low that there isn’t even a police officer here. Photo: IT.
Đảo Santa Cruz del Islote The size of two football fields, but with more than 500 people living and no toilets or wastewater collection system.
The island has the highest population density in the world located in the Gulf of Morrosquillo, northern Colombia, under the administration of the city government of Cartagena.
150 years ago, the island was just a mass of rock less than the size of a football field. Colombian fishermen at that time often came here to rest or take shelter during storms.
Over time, people began to move to the island to settle. They built houses and expanded the island by using seashells, sand, tree trunks, and trash to encroach on the sea, doubling the island’s area to about 0.12 km2, equivalent to the size of two football fields.
About 65% population on the island is a person under 18 years old. Santa Cruz del Islote has no toilets or wastewater treatment system, cannot grow crops or raise livestock, and the main food source is fish caught at sea.
Water, food, and necessities are all transported from the mainland to the island. The island also has no cemetery, so the dead are brought to another island for burial.
Although there are 97 houses, the islanders lack the means to produce their own drinking water, so the Colombian Navy has to bring in drinking water.
However, Navy services often cannot reach the island as planned, forcing residents to rely on barrels to collect rainwater for daily use.
There are very few basic medical facilities on the island. There is only one medical center with one nurse and some outdated equipment on the island and a doctor who visits every two weeks.
In case of serious illness or emergency, islanders will pool their resources to pay for the boat ride to the mainland. However, this approach depends on boat availability and weather conditions.
Power on the island is also in short supply and they have to rely on diesel generators and solar panels. The surprising thing is that even though there are nearly a hundred houses, the crime rate is so low that there isn’t even a police officer here. Photo: IT.