Cedros Island

Cedros Island (Spanish: Isla de Cedros, or "island of cedars"; an old English name is Cerros Island) lies in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of the Mexican state of Baja California, 22 km northwest of Punta Eugenia (the westernmost point of Baja California Sur mainland (part of Mulegé (municipality)), 15 km north of Isla Natividad (off Punta Eugenia, also part of Mulegé, and 426 km south of San Diego. The Island was named by early Spanish explorers who mistakenly associated the large amounts of redwood and cedar driftwood arriving with the California current for local pines visible on the crest of the island. The island has an area of 347 km² (134 mi²). It constitutes one of the 24 subdivisions (delegaciones) of the municipio of Ensenada. Capital is the town of Cedros ("Pueblo Cedros"), on the southern east coast. Other towns are Puerto Morro Redondo (in the southeast corner), San Augustín (western south coast), and La Colorada (southern west coast). The Islas San Benito, about 25 km west and 3.9 km² in area, are administratively part of Cedros Island.