Riesco Island

Infobox Islands
name = Riesco


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Location map|Chile|width=50|float=center|lat=-50.0|long=-72.5
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native name = "Isla Riesco"
native name link = Spanish language
nickname =
location = Zona Austral
coordinates = coord|53|0|S|72|30|W|type:isle_region:CL|display=inline
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area = 5,110 km²
highest mount = Mount Atalaya
elevation = 1,830 m
country = Chile
country admin divisions title = Region
country admin divisions = Magallanes
country admin divisions title 1 = Province
country admin divisions 1 = Magallanes
country admin divisions title 2 = Commune
country admin divisions 2 = Río Verde
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additional info =Riesco Island lies at west of the Brunswick Peninsula, Chile. It has an area of 5,110 km² and the highest point is Mount Atalaya at 1830 m. The island is bordered by two large piedmont embayments: Otway Sound and Skyring Sound. A narrow channel connects both bodies of water and separates the island from Patagonia mainland. The island is separated from the southern part of the Muñoz Gamero Peninsula by another narrow channel.

Riesco Island (Isla Riesco in Spanish) hosts Chile's largest known coal reserves. It is thought to contain more than 300 million tonnes of low-quality coal in three deposits: "Río Eduardo", "Elena" and "Estancia Invierno".

Glaciers occur on the island. In the north, an icefield is the source of 7 glaciers and "Cerro Ladrillero" has 12 glaciers on its slopes. In the southern portion of the island, "Córdova Peninsula" marks the easthern limit of the Strait of Magellan and is home to several mountain glaciers.cite web |title=P 1386-I Chile and Argentina - Wet Andes: Southern Patagonian Andes |url=http://pubs.usgs.gov/prof/p1386i/chile-arg/wet/southpat.html| author=USGS|accessdate=2008-01-28]

Riesco is a surname. In Chile, a president called Germán Riesco was elected at the beginning of the 20th century. A lot of places have been named after him, including a Riesco River, a lake, an island and several streets.

References