Bocas Islands
| Bocas Islands | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Waters | Gulf of Pariah | |
| Geographical location | 10 ° 41 ′ N , 61 ° 43 ′ W | |
|
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| Number of islands | 5 | |
| Total land area | 9.8 km² | |
| Residents | 50 (2011) | |
The Bocas Islands are an archipelago in the Bocas del Dragón strait between Trinidad and Venezuela . They form the northern limit of the Gulf of Paria to the Caribbean Sea . There are smaller straits between the islands. The following islands belong to the archipelago from west to east:
| island | surface | Residents |
|---|---|---|
| Chacachacare | 3.6 km² | 0 |
| Huevos | 1.0 km² | 0 |
| Monos | 3.9 km² | unknown |
| Gaspar Grande | 1.3 km² | unknown |
| Little Gasparee | 0.8 ha | 0 |
| total | 9.8 km² | 50 |
During the times of Spanish and British rule over Trinidad, the islands were of strategic importance, as access to the Gulf of Pariah and thus to today's Venezuelan mainland was usually through the Bocas del Dragón and could be easily controlled by military bases on the islands. In the 18th century the islands had economic importance through cotton cultivation, so in 1797 1% of all residents of Trinidad lived on the Bocas, but generated 10% of the island's income. In the 19th century the islands had economic importance due to whaling. Today the islands, called "Down the islands" by the locals, are used as a recreational area for day trips. On Monos and Gaspar Grande there are also holiday homes belonging to wealthy Trinis as well as some houses that are inhabited all year round.
literature
- Anthony de Verteuil : Western Isles of Trinidad (Paria Publishing)
Web links
gallery
View of Monos and Huevos from Chacachacare Hill, with the mainland in the background
