COZUMEL ISLANDS: COUNTRY PROFILE AND MAP

GEOGRAPHY:

Cozumel is located 19 degrees North & 87 degrees West, 550 miles south of Miami & 12 miles off the Yucatan Peninsula. It's the largest of Mexico's islands, approximately 9 miles wide & 33 miles long. The island is part of the Quintana Roo State and has the second largest barrier reef in the world.

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Cozumel is a flat island, the highest point above sea level is only 20 ft. There are no mountains oivers, only sandy & rocky beaches. Miles of white beaches are located in the East Coast of Cozumel and only 6% of the entire island has been developed.

TIME:

Central

CLIMATE:

Summer: high - 30 degrees C. low - 25 degrees C.
Winter: high - 25 degrees C. low - 18 degrees C.
Average rainfall - 1033 mm annually.
Approx. sunrise - 0500-0530 Summer. 0530-0600 Winter.
Approx. sunset - 1830-1900 Summer. 1800-1830 Winter.

HISTORY:

Cozumel Island was the sanctuary of Ix-Chel the fertilty Goddess which Mayan women visited at least once in their lives. Pirates, such as Jean Laffite, used it as home. The oldest hotel was opened in the 50s and in the early 60's Jacques Costeau discovered the beauty of Palanca reef. Since then 6% of the island has been developed.

LANGUAGE:

Spanish is the official language but English & Mayan are widely spoken.

POPULATION:

65,000 (Jan 1998).

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