Two hours off the coast of Colombia is a small island home to over 1,200 people. As the entirety of Santa Cruz del Islote only spans the length of two soccer fields, residents live in close quarters, making the island four times as dense as the borough of Manhattan.
image/source: Great Big Story
Despite the circumstances, the community makes the most of their limited surface area, packing in a school, two shops and one restaurant.
Only 150 years ago, the island was uninhabited; today, generations of families are proud to call Santa Cruz del Islote home.
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The economy is based on fishing and services including cleaning, cooking, tourism guides, which locals provide to the luxurious hotels in neighbouring islands. There is a strong community spirit here – a family who needs help can count on the support of its neighbours.
