Cozumel
Cozumel (Spanish pronunciation: [kosuˈmel]; Yucatec Maya: Kùutsmil) is an island and municipality in the Caribbean Sea off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, opposite Playa del Carmen. It is separated from the mainland by the Cozumel Channel and is close to the Yucatán Channel. The municipality is part of the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico.
Geography
2
647.33 km2 (249.94 sq mi)
14 m
Cozumel
San Miguel de Cozumel (pop. 84915)
Juanita Obdulia Alonso Marrufo (Morena)
88626 (2020)
154.5/km2 (400.2/sq mi)
Parque Nacional Arrecifes de Cozumel
2 February 2005
1449[1]
Manglares y Humedales del Norte de Isla Cozumel
2 February 2009
1921[2]
Endemic species and subspecies of bird include
Endemic dwarf mammals are found on the island include
Three rodents of Cozumel are larger than their mainland counterparts: Oryzomys couesi, Peromyscus leucopus, and critically endangered Reithrodontomys spectabilis, the latter of which is also endemic to the island.
Endemic marine life includes
Other native wildlife includes
Invasive species include
Education[edit]
There are three universities on the island: the State Public University of Quintana Roo (UQROO)[49] and two private universities, the Partenon Institute[50] and the Interamerican University for Development (UNID).[51] In addition to teaching English as a degree program, they offer other career options including natural resources research, tourism and commercial systems. The Cozumel Arts University offers artist education at the bachelor's level.[52]
Culture[edit]
Santa Cruz Festival and El Cedral Fair[edit]
The Festival of Santa Cruz and El Cedral Fair is a historical tradition held in the town of El Cedral, in the south of Cozumel Island at the end of April. This annual event is said to have been started over 150 years ago by Casimiro Cárdenas. Cárdenas was one of a group that fled to the island from the village of Saban, on the mainland, after an attack during the Caste War of Yucatán in 1848. The attackers killed other villagers, but Cárdenas survived whilst clutching a small wooden cross.