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In The San Bernardo Archipelago, The Small Island Became A Global Reference For Population Density And Faces Challenges Of Space, Infrastructure And Living With Tourism.
Santa Cruz del Islote is located in the San Bernardo archipelago in Colombia and draws attention for occupying an area equivalent to two soccer fields.
Even with an extremely limited territory, the place is home to a large community that lives daily with narrow streets and buildings closely packed together.
The island is cited as the most densely populated in the world, precisely because of the relationship between size and number of residents.
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How Occupation Began In The 19th Century
Despite its current fame, Santa Cruz del Islote remained uninhabited until the 19th century.
The occupation began when Afro-Colombian fishermen started to navigate the San Bernardo region in search of fish. The islet’s location, formed by a combination of elevated seabed and coral, helped these workers stay at sea longer.
Over the years, families began to settle, and the community steadily grew over the course of about two centuries.
Official Area And Dispute Over The Number Of Residents
Officially, Santa Cruz del Islote has only 0.012 km² and a population of around 1,200 people.
Some residents dispute this number and claim that the community has approximately 900 inhabitants. Still, even with the lower estimate, the reality remains one of overcrowding in a very small space.
This difference in figures arises precisely because the label of “most densely populated island in the world” is not always well-received by those who live there.
Houses, Verticalization And Security Concerns
The island has about 115 houses, practically the maximum possible for such a small plot of land.
With the lack of space, some homes began to grow upwards, with taller constructions. This raised concerns about the safety of the structures and the site’s capacity to support new expansions.
Territorial limitations and the conditions of these constructions are among the main points raising doubts about the future of Santa Cruz del Islote.
Tourism, Charging And Discomfort With Exposure
As the islet’s reputation spread, visitors began to arrive to see the place.
However, many residents were uncomfortable with how they were filmed and photographed, comparing the situation to constant exposure. In response, the community began charging to receive tourists.
The fee became a way to at least obtain some financial return from the presence of visitors attracted by curiosity.
Everyday Life: Challenges And Reasons To Stay
Living in Santa Cruz del Islote involves difficulties that go beyond the limited space.
Drinking water, for example, needs to be transported from the mainland weekly. Poverty is also pointed out as a prevalent issue in the community.
Still, residents claim there is no crime and highlight a curious detail: the risk of being run over is nonexistent because there are no cars on the island.
Conheço muito bem essa ilha, morei no arquipélago de San Bernardo e ia até essa ilha pois aí estava o “mercado” mais perto ! E saúde tbm !
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