Tortuga is a mountainous, 180-square-kilometre island lying off the north coast of Hispaniola, modern-day Haiti. Also known as Ǐle de Tortue due to being it shaped like a turtle, Tortuga was discovered by the Spanish in 1492, becoming an important centre for pirates and buccaneers from about 1630 and 1670. The island declined as a pirate haven as more and more pirates headed for Jamaica, or accepted commissions as privateers from the French Crown. Possession of the island was disputed by the French, Spanish, Dutch, and English until it finally came under complete French control in 1697, together with the western half of Hispaniola.