Isla de Flores

File:Isla de Flores Montevideo.png

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Isla de Flores is a small island in the Rio de la Plata, 21 miles (34 km) south-east of Punta Carretas, Montevideo, Uruguay.

History

Flores was named by Sebastián Gaboto, who discovered it on Easter Sunday 1527 (the Spanish expression Pascua Florida or Pascua de Flores, i.e. "Flowery Easter" was the reason for the name "Flores").

It has a historic lighthouse, which was the subject of an 1819 treaty, by which Uruguay lost the Misiones Orientales. This lighthouse, of Portuguese origin, entered service in 1828. It was dubbed "the world's most expensive lighthouse". The lighthouse is now under the jurisdiction of the Uruguayan Navy. It is 37 metres (121 ft) high and flashes twice every 10 seconds.

File:R.O.U. 27 Banco Ortiz atracado en Isla de Flores, Uruguay..JPG

Uruguayan Navy Ship "R.O.U. Banco Ortiz" moored at dock of the "Isla de Flores", Uruguay.

Accidents

On 6 June 2012, the Fairchild SA227AC Metro III CX-LAS performing a freight flight on behalf of DHL from Montevideo to Buenos Aires disappeared south of the island of Flores.