World Island Info

A tiny river island in Chile may have been the site of 35% of Chile’s earthquake casualties, if reports are accurate.

As many as 300 people may have been camped on Isla Orrego at the mouth of the Maule River at the town of Constitucion, as part of a holiday celebration. The island is low-lying, partly forested, and only about 50 acres / 20 hectares.

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Waves of up to 30 feet / 10 meters swept over the island. While some had left after the quake, many remained, and all but a few who managed to climb trees were carried away.

Islayblog.com, which covers the Inner Hebridean island of Islay, in Scotland, is doing a series of pictures of islands on the island. Here’s the first post about it.

Islay has some interesting double islands, including Eilean Mor and Eilean na Comhairle (Council Island) in Loch Finlaggan, which served as administrative centers for the Lords of the Isles and Clan Donald.

Image courtesy ifyr, Flick
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