Los Testigos Islands
Encyclopedia
Los Testigos Islands are a group of islands in the southeastern Caribbean Sea
. They are a part of the Dependencias Federales (Federal Dependencies
) of Venezuela
.
and about 80 km (49.7 mi) northeast of Isla Margarita
. The coordinates of the main island are 11°22′59"N 63°05′50"W.
The archipelago has an area of 6.53 square km (2.52 square miles) (1) and consists of 6 major islands and a number of smaller rock islets.
The larger island
s are:
The larger rock islet
s are:
The population is about 200 inhabitants (according to 2001 census) mostly being fishing families. There is a small military base
operated by the Venezuelan navy on the main island.
On August 9, 1972 the islands, together with the other islands of the Dependencias Federales, were declared a national park
(3) with the park being established on August 18.
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
. They are a part of the Dependencias Federales (Federal Dependencies
Federal dependencies of Venezuela
The Federal Dependencies of Venezuela encompass all of Venezuela's off shore islands in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Venezuela...
) of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
.
Geography
The Los Testigos Islands are located about 400 km (248.5 mi) northeast of CaracasCaracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
and about 80 km (49.7 mi) northeast of Isla Margarita
Isla Margarita
Margarita Island is the largest island of the state of Nueva Esparta in Venezuela, situated in the Caribbean Sea, off the northeastern coast of the country. The state also contains two other smaller islands: Coche and Cubagua. The capital city of Nueva Esparta is La Asunción, located in a river...
. The coordinates of the main island are 11°22′59"N 63°05′50"W.
The archipelago has an area of 6.53 square km (2.52 square miles) (1) and consists of 6 major islands and a number of smaller rock islets.
The larger island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s are:
- Isla Testigo Grande, main island
- Isla Conejo, east of the main island
- Isla Iguana, south of the main island
- Isla Morro Blanco, south of the main island
- Isla Noreste, northeast of the main island
- Isla Rajada, east of the main island
The larger rock islet
Islet
An islet is a very small island.- Types :As suggested by its origin as islette, an Old French diminutive of "isle", use of the term implies small size, but little attention is given to drawing an upper limit on its applicability....
s are:
- El Chivo
- Peñón de Fuera
The population is about 200 inhabitants (according to 2001 census) mostly being fishing families. There is a small military base
Military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
operated by the Venezuelan navy on the main island.
History
In 1938 the islands were put under the administration of the Ministerio del Interior y de Justicia (Ministry of Interior and Justice) (2) as part of the Dependencias Federales.On August 9, 1972 the islands, together with the other islands of the Dependencias Federales, were declared a national park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
(3) with the park being established on August 18.
