Cayos Miskitos
| Cayos Miskitos | ||
|---|---|---|
| Waters | Caribbean Sea | |
| Geographical location | 14 ° 23 ′ N , 82 ° 46 ′ W | |
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| Number of islands | 12 | |
| Main island | Cayo Major | |
| Total land area | approx. 47 km² | |
| Residents | uninhabited | |
The Cayos Miskitos (English Miskito Cays ) are a group of islands in the Caribbean , about 45 kilometers east of the Miskito coast of Nicaragua . The group consists of a large island ( Cayo Major ) with an area of 37 km², eleven smaller cays with vegetation and numerous coral reefs , sandbanks and mangrove forests .
The uninhabited islands are part of the barrier reef off the east coast of Central America and are an important refuge for the Hawksbill sea turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricata ) and the green turtle ( Chelonia mydas ), among others . Because of the unique biodiversity of the coral reefs and the mangrove forests, the islands have been under nature protection since 1991 and are a popular destination for ecotourists .