Desertores Islands

Geography

Desertores Islands are a group of islands in the Sea of Chiloé, between Chiloé Island and the mainland of Chile, forming a maritime buffer between the Gulf of Ancud and the Gulf of Corcovado. They are the easternmost islands of the Chiloé Archipelago geographically, but are administered as part of the Chaitén commune, in the Palena Province, unlike the rest of the Archipelago, which forms Chiloé Province.{{cite web|url=https://www.fcmarina.cl/en/project/coastal-marine-space-for-native-people-desertores-islandchaitenchile/|title= Coastal Marine Space for Native People, Desertores Islands – Chaitén, Chile|work=FC Marina|access-date=1 June 2025}}

The six main islands are Auten, Chuit, Chulin, Imerquiña, Nayahue and Talcan. Talcan, spanning 44.986 km2 is the biggest and easternmost of the Desertores Islands, close to the mainland. The terrain is made up primarily of coastal lowlands and forested plains covered by evergreen forests, typical of southern Chile’s rainforests. The islands are characterized by small hills, coastal cliffs, and inlets suitable for artisanal fishing and seaweed harvesting. Various distinct vegetation zones occur such as sandy beaches, grasslands, and rocky areas. The islands have a temperate climate with warm summers and ample rainfall. The islands are home to a number of species, and the government of Chile has announced preliminary work on Marine Protected Areas near the Desertores archipelago to safeguard fisheries and preserve marine habitats.

Demographics and economy

The islands are sparsely populated with primary economic activities including fishing and subsistence farming. Historically isolated, the islands remained marginal in government planning until recent initiatives began providing state services to islands like Nayahué and Auten in 2022. These missions aim to reach remote communities with health, judicial, and civil services directly in their localities. There are no permanent road connections, and all travel is by boat. Government-subsidized maritime transport links the islands to Chiloé Island and to Chaitén on the mainland. Some islands like Talcan have small aerodromes, but do not have regular commercial flights.

References

References

1. (March 2015). "Variability of environmental heterogeneity in northern Patagonia, Chile". Revista de Biologia Marina Y Oceanografia.
2. "Isla Desertores". Visit Chile.
3. "Talcan". World Islands.
4. "Plan Especial de Desarrollo de Zonas Extremas - Región de Los Lagos". Subdere.
5. "Ministra anuncia nueva Área Marina Protegida en Los Lagos". Ministerio del Medio Ambiente.
6. "Comunidades insulares exigen conectividad y apoyo al sector pesquero". La Nación.
7. (16 May 2022). "Gobierno en Terreno Archipiélago Desertores Isla Auteni y Nayahue". Delegación Presidencial Provincial de Palena.
8. "Instalación de salas de videoconferencia judicial en Archipiélago Desertores". Poder Judicial de Chile.
9. "Gobierno en Terreno Archipiélago Desertores Isla Auteni y Nayahue". Delegación Presidencial Provincial de Palena.