Life in the Intersection of Sea and Society
Nestled off the coast of Colombia, Santa Cruz del Islote is a tiny, man-made island that stands as the most densely populated island on Earth. Measuring just 0.01 square kilometers, this island, barely larger than two soccer fields, is home to over 500–800 people.
Born on this island over 70 years ago, Don Guillermo was one of the few residents who lived there when only a handful of fisher families called Santa Cruz home, residing in about 30 huts. Today, the island is a bustling community where almost every inch of land is built upon with housing, passageways, and communal spaces.
The island's initial accommodations were built on a coral reef for fishermen to take a break without having to return to the mainland. Over time, more land was painstakingly reclaimed from the sea by piling sand, stones, coral remnants, and seashells into the shallow water around the island. As a result, houses now crowd together and on top of each other, with narrow alleys between them providing a little shade. Some houses even stand on concrete pillars above the water.
Life on Santa Cruz del Islote revolves around cooperation, sharing limited resources, and adapting creatively to challenges. The community emphasizes collective care, with neighbors watching out for each other's children and facing hardships together. Life here revolves around the ocean, with fishing being a significant part of the islanders' livelihood. However, environmental issues pose a paradox—the islanders depend on the surrounding ocean but also contribute to pollution due to a lack of waste disposal options, with trash littering the ocean floor.
Culturally, the island is defined by a strong sense of community, resilience, and mutual support. Education beyond primary school is limited due to geographic isolation and costs, but the community compensates with strong cooperation and ingenuity. Tourism is emerging as both an economic opportunity, especially for the island's youth, and a challenge for preserving their fragile environment and social fabric.
Despite the hardships, there is a deep pride in their home and a determination to maintain their way of life. The Hinz&Kunzt vendors are a significant part of the project, offering magazines from the current issue that can be bought from their stalls on the streets of Hamburg. For overseas customers, there is also the option to subscribe to a print subscription.
Santa Cruz del Islote provides a unique social and cultural experience reflective of Caribbean coastal island life, showcasing human adaptability, community cohesion, and the tension between tradition and modernization.
Traveling to Santa Cruz del Islote offers a glimpse into a lifestyle unique to Caribbean coastal island communities, showcasing the islanders' adaptation, resilience, and strong sense of community. Living on this densely populated island, residents rely heavily on travel, primarily for fishing and tourism, to sustain their way of life.
