Aves (island)
Aves | ||
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NASA image of Aves Island with surrounding coral reefs | ||
Waters | Caribbean Sea | |
Geographical location | 15 ° 40 ′ 18 ″ N , 63 ° 36 ′ 59 ″ W | |
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length | 375 m | |
width | 50 m | |
surface | 0.65 ha | |
Highest elevation | 4 m | |
main place | Simón Bolívar (Station) |
Aves ( Spanish Isla de Aves , "Bird Island"), also Bird Island , is an island in the Caribbean Sea occupied by Venezuela . Administratively, the island belongs to the Venezuelan federal territories ( Dependencias Federales ). Venezuela's claims to the island and the surrounding area are doubted by several neighbors (France, the Netherlands, the USA and formerly Dominica).
Aves is a resting and breeding place for sea birds and the green turtle ( Chelonia mydas ).
geography
The island is 375 meters long, nowhere wider than 50 meters and rises 4 meters above sea level on calm days. It is sometimes completely flooded during hurricanes . Because of its low height, it is dangerous for seafaring and many ships have run aground. Its area is about 6500 m² (0.0065 km² or 0.65 ha).
The island is located about 180 km southwest of Montserrat , about 230 km west of Dominica and just under 550 km north of the Venezuelan mainland and forms the northernmost land mass of Venezuela.
history
The island was probably discovered by Avaro Sanzze in 1584 . It has been claimed by Great Britain , Spain , Portugal and the Netherlands . From 1878 to 1912 it was inhabited by American guano farmers until the deposits were mined. In 1895 it was claimed for Venezuela by President Joaquín Crespo . In fact, Venezuela did not take possession of the island until 1950 when a naval unit landed.
Economic zone
Some Caribbean countries, including Dominica , have complained that Venezuela demands an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles (370 km) to the island a fraction of the UN - Convention on the Law of the Sea was of the 1,982th This prohibits territorial claims of more than 12 nautical miles (22 km) for uninhabited islands. Venezuela has not signed this convention, but tries to show the habitability of the island with a research and military station built on stakes. The expectation that the signing of the Petrocaribe Treaty between Venezuela and many of the Caribbean countries in June 2005 would defuse the conflict with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was not fulfilled.
station
On June 2, 1978, the Venezuelan Navy established a scientific naval base on the west side near the southern edge of the island. The station with the name Simón Bolívar was built as a platform on stilts, some of which are in the water. It is permanently inhabited by scientists and members of the Navy.
See also
Web links
- An aerial view of the island from 1997 (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ M. Scott Garrison, Sovereignty of Aves Island: An Argument Against Compulsory, Standardized Arbitration of Maritime Boundary Disputes Subject to Review by the International Court of Justice . In: University of Miami Inter-American Law Review , vol. 38 (2006), pp. 185–223 ( PDF )
- ↑ https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/caribbean/aves.htm
- ↑ BIRD ISLAND: TIME TO ACT ( memento of February 27, 2005 in the Internet Archive ), accessed on November 28, 2013.
- ↑ Fitz Shillingford: Who really owns Bird Island? In: The Sun (Roseau), February 28, 2019, accessed January 13, 2020.