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Isla Nublar (known as "Cloud Island" to the natives) is a remote island 120 miles (190 km) off the coast of Costa Rica. It is 8 miles long and 3 miles wide at its widest point with a total of 22 square miles.[1] When the Hammond Foundation leased Nublar from the Costa Rican Government, they were shocked that anyone would want it; the island was nothing but clouds, jungle, and hard rock (considering Nublar was a seamount). Yet, Hammond had secretly made this the site of Jurassic Park. It is also notable that Isla Nublar contained different scenery and climates throughout. For example, the helicopter landing pad is shrouded in a fine mist and surrounded by tall conifers. However, the Stegosaurus Paddock is depicted as being rough, bare and open.

Before opening it to the public, John Hammond invited Alan Grant, Ellie Sattler, Ian Malcolm, Donald Gennaro and his two grandchildren (Lex and Tim) to experience the park, mainly due to his investors pressing an inspection. However, a sequence of disasters leads to the closure of the park. This event is nicknamed the Jurassic Park incident or "InGen incident". Towards the end of the novel after the survivors are evacuated, the island is bombarded by the Costa Rican Air Force, destroying Jurassic Park and killing the dinosaurs.

However, after the survivors are taken to the mainland, Martin Gutierrez, a Costa Rican biologist, informs Alan Grant that an unknown pack of animals (possibly Procompsognathus or Velociraptor) has been eating crops rich in lysine all over Costa Rica.

RegionalmapIslaNublarandSornaCostaRicaJurassicParkSiteB by Henrique

Regional map of Isla Nublar in the Pacific Ocean.

Map[]

Isla Nublar map

Isla Nublar novel map made by H.Z. Tomassi.

There appears to be no map of the island in the first novel. From descriptions in the story, fans have tried to reconstruct a map of Isla Nublar. The map in the example shown may be the most accurate depiction, however. A few others are also based on the novel, but they conflict with the events that take place; the characters will be in one place and then a completely different area in the next sequence of events. This map is by far the best example for a number of reasons:

  • Physical Description: Appears like an inverted teardrop; bulging in the north, thinning in the south.
  • A large, man-made lake stretches through the middle of the island.
  • The jungle river runs for miles along the interior of the island.
  • A stream runs near the path to Hammond's Bungalow as stated in the novel.
  • Volcanic fumes from the south are present.
  • The island has a poor harbor; there is no defending storm barrier.
  • Dimensions of the island are as described.

Environment[]

According to Hammond, Ginger is grown on the eastern side of the island, which is eventually used to make his specific ice cream in his Bungalow. The northern tip of the island had deciduous rain forest, while the rest of the island was primarily tropical rain forest. The novel states that when the visitors arrived, a large palm tree grove gave an eerie Jurassic feel to the place. The tour then explains that other vegetation includes cycads, a type of large fern that dates back to the Mesozoic era, as well as pines, and even bamboo at some places.

The southern tip of the island has the highest volcanic activity of the island. Sulphurous plumes and steam are coming out of the ground.[2]

Fauna[]

  • The island hosts dozens of bird species, but none of them are large flightless birds.[3]
  • Possum[4]
  • Rats
  • Snakes
  • Leeches
  • Cicadas

Park locations[]

JPIsland

Another possible rendering of the island.

Mentioned locations are:

Dinosaurs[]

see Jurassic_Park_(novel_park)#Dinosaurs_in_Jurassic_Park

Isla Nublar Field Guide Map

Sources[]

  1. Jurassic Park: Isla Nublar
  2. Jurassic Park (novel), Stegosaurus (chapter), page 155.
  3. Jurassic Park (novel), Stegosaurus (chapter), page 161.
  4. Jurassic Park (novel), page 193.

Jurassic Park (novel) Isla Nublar (chapter)

Jurassic Park (novel) Bungalow (Chapter)

Jurassic Park (novel) The Tour (Chapter)

Jurassic Park (novel) Hammond (chapter)

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