Isla de Flores

Isla de Flores is a small Uruguayan island in the Rio de la Plata, located 34 kilometers (21 miles) south of Punta Carretas in Montevideo. On February 26, 2018, the island and two nautical miles of ocean surrounding it were designated as a national park.

Sailors came to the island every now and again. George Pegler, a British-born American preacher, recalls a brief visit with the rest of the crew of the British Navy ship Horatio in 1811 or 1812. Because of the large amount of South American fur seals, the sailors christened it Seal Island. To hunt the seals, groups of 100 or more sailors would dock on the island.

The ancient lighthouse on Isla de Flores was the subject of an 1819 treaty that saw Uruguay lose the Misiones Orientales. This lighthouse, which was built in Portugal, first went into service in 1828. It was termed "the most expensive lighthouse in the world." The Uruguayan Navy presently has jurisdiction over the lighthouse. It stands 37 meters (121 feet) tall and flashes every ten seconds.

Location: Monte Video, Uruguay