Jacques Cousteau Island

Isla Jacques Cousteau
Isla Cerralvo
Jacques Cousteau Island
Cerralvo Island

Aerial view of Jacques Cousteau Island
Geography
Location	Gulf of California Baja California Sur
Coordinates	24°13′17″N 109°52′14″W / 24.22139°N 109.87056°W / 24.22139; -109.87056
Area	136 km2 (53 sq mi)
Administration
Mexico
Demographics
Population	Uninhabited

Isla Cerralvo (Spanish: [ˈisla seˈralβo]), as is commonly named, whose official name is Isla Jacques Cousteau (French: [ʒak kusto]; Spanish: [ʝak ˈkusto]), is an island located off the Cerralvo Canal coast near La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

It is 18 miles (29 km) long with a land area of 136.498 square kilometres (52.702 sq mi), and is the ninth-largest island in Mexico. The island is adjacent to the towns of El Sargento and La Ventana and is part of Municipality of La Paz. The island peak comes to 2,100 ft (640 m) and the ridge line runs north–south with many small streams draining east to Gulf of California and west to Cupalo Canal. There are many steep bluffs on the eastern sides and many sandy beaches and points on the west side.

There is abundant marine life surrounding this island which are due to underwater topography and ocean currents and are the traditional fishing grounds of the local ejidos and is dotted with temporary fish camps. Virtually all local marine life must migrate past the island, and water visibility goes up to 30 meters, making it a prime location for big game fishing. There are abundant yellowtail, golden grouper, marlin, sailfish, swordfish or broadbill, other game, and bait fish in Cerralvo Canal waters.