COCOS ISLAND

Spanish Isla Del Coco, island lying in the Pacific Ocean, about 300 miles (480 km) south of the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica. It rises to an elevation of about 2,800 feet (850 m) above sea level, is about 5 miles (8 km) long and 3 miles (5 km) wide, and has a total area of 9 square miles (24 square km). Geologically, it is part of the Cocos Ridge and is related to the Galpagos Islands to the south. In 1982 the island was designated Cocos Island National Park; it is an important repository of indigenous species. The rugged, uninhabited island has two natural harbours, Wafer Bay and Chatham Bay, both located on the north coast. It gained notoriety during the colonial era as a haven for pirates and as an alleged site of their buried treasures, which have never been found despite the attempts of 500 expeditions. It is of strategic importance because of its proximity to the Panama Canal.