In the southern Pacific Ocean, between about 600 and 750 kilometers from the Chilean
Away from the coast, three lonely islands lie in the expanse of the sea. The Spanish navigator Juan Fernández discovered the Islas Juan Fernández in 1574 and gave them his name; At least one of the islands only became “known” later through the world-famous novel “Robinson Crusoe”. In 1704, the Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk was abandoned on Isla Más a Tierra, the largest of the three islands, and lived there for four years and four
In total solitude for months. Writer Daniel Defoe was inspired by his story to write his classic novel, after which Isla Más a Tierra was renamed Isla Robinsón Crusoe in honor of the work in 1970.
Today around 600 people live on the island, most of whom live in the only town of San Juan Bautista. They live from lobster fishing and tourism. Several hundred tourists visit the island every year, often just because of the prominent name. In addition, diving is also gaining in popularity, with a small part of German history being the focus. During the First World War, the German cruiser SMS Dresden reenacted itself on March 14, 1915
adventurous odyssey and pursuit by the British cruisers Kent, Glasgow and Orama in Cumberland Bay on the island of Más a Tierra under Chilean sovereignty. Nevertheless, the British opened fire and the cruiser SMS Dresden caught fire, after which the ship was sunk by the crew themselves. The site in Cumberland Bay is now marked with two yellow buoys and has been declared a national monument by the Chilean government. The school on the island also bears the name Kreuzer: "Escuela Dresden". In the rocky coast
behind the last berth of the cruiser there are still a few shells from the guns of the British pursuers.
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