Gorgona Island, Colombia

Gorgona National Natural Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Location of Gorgona Island
Location	Pacific Ocean
Nearest city	Guapí, Cauca
Coordinates	02°58′03″N 78°10′49″W / 2.96750°N 78.18028°W / 2.96750; -78.18028Coordinates: 02°58′03″N 78°10′49″W / 2.96750°N 78.18028°W / 2.96750; -78.18028
Area	620 km2 (240 sq mi) marine 26 km2 (10 sq mi) land
Established	1984
Governing body	SINAP

Gorgona is a Colombian island in the Pacific Ocean situated about 35 km (22 mi) off the Colombian Pacific coast . The island is 9 km (5.6 mi) and 2.5 km (1.6 mi) wide, with a maximum height of 338 m (1,109 ft) and a total area of 26 km² (10 sq mi). Gorgona is separated from the continent by a 270 m (890 ft) deep underwater depression.

Administratively the island is part of the Municipality of Guapí in the Department of Cauca. Gorgona functioned as a prison from 1959 until 1984 when it was turned into a National Natural Park. The island, noted for a large number of endemic species and unique ecosystems, was established as Gorgona Island National Park in 1985, in order to preserve its richly varied wildlife of the sub-tropical forest and the coral reefs offshore.

Gorgona was first inhabited by people possibly associated with the Tumaco-Tolita culture. The indigenous Kuna or Cuna of Urabá (Colombia) and San Blas (Panama), have the tradition of being the first settlers of the island. They left archeological remains dating back to 1300 AD. They were expert sailors and lived off farming and fishing. They also worked with stone tools and were goldsmiths.

Spanish conquistadors first visited Gorgona in 1524 when it was discovered by Diego de Almagro. He named it San Felipe. Three years later, in 1527, Francisco Pizarro, in his second expedition to Peru, arrived in the island from Gallo island, running away from the indigenous group that lived there. Pizarro and thirteen of his men remained for seven months on Gorgona waiting for the arrival of provisions, preparing for a continuation of his efforts to conquer Peru. Pizarro, who considered the island an "inferno", gave it the name Gorgona after losing many of his men to bites from the great number of snakes that inhabit the island. The name refers to the mythical Gorgon, Medusa who had living venomous snakes in place of hair. Bartolome Ruiz, a Spanish boat pilot, was sent from Panama to rescue them. With Ruiz's ship as the only one at Pizarro's disposal, they all left Gorgona to conquer Peru.