Almost the size of a football field: where the most densely populated island in the world is located

The tiny island of Santa Cruz de Islote, located off the coast of Colombia, impresses with its incredible population density. A large number of people live on an area slightly larger than a football field, creating a unique microcosm with its own rules and peculiarities.

Santa Cruz de Islote, located just two hours from Cartagena, Colombia, is one of the most densely populated places on the planet. Its area is only 2.4 acres, which is slightly larger than a football field. This tiny island, built in the XIX century, has become known for its unique population density and special way of life, writes the Daily Express.

The island attracts journalists and bloggers from all over the world who want to know how people live in such cramped conditions. Despite the lack of space, the island has everything you need for life: shops, a school, a restaurant, a hostel, and even a medical center. According to infobae, each resident has about 10 square meters.

Journalist Diego Robledo, who visited the island, described the peculiarities of local construction. Due to lack of space, houses often have two floors built on top of each other. Construction is done with hollow bricks and cement, and the structures often look unreliable. Metal sheet roofs protect against the tropical climate. The windows, often without glass, remain open due to the heat, which creates a feeling of complete lack of privacy.

The lack of privacy is one of the key features of life on the island. According to Robledo, a word spoken on one end of the island can be heard on the other. Residents are accustomed to the fact that their private lives are practically in full view of everyone. Another feature is the absence of cars and motorcycles, which creates a silence unusual for a modern city dweller.

Robledo also drew attention to the absence of police and any other form of government on the island. Instead, there is a neighborhood council on the island that resolves all issues and settles conflicts. According to a local guide, the crime rate on the island is very low, and minor disputes are resolved peacefully.

Blogger and filmmaker Ruhi Chenet, who also visited Santa Cruz, confirmed Robledo's words about the extreme population density and the peculiarities of the building. He noted that it is "impossible to be alone" on the island, and that houses are built chaotically, one on top of the other, due to a lack of space.

Despite the difficult conditions, the island has existed for many centuries, largely thanks to aid from the mainland and other islands, from where essential goods and resources are regularly delivered. This tiny island is a unique example of human adaptation to limited space and demonstrates how a community can organize itself to solve common problems.

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