Isla Margarita
| Isla Margarita | |
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| Waters | Caribbean Sea |
| Archipelago | Leeward Islands |
| Geographical location | 11 ° 1 ′ N , 63 ° 55 ′ W |
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| length | 69.4 km |
| width | 33.2 km |
| surface | 956.8 km² |
| Highest elevation | San Juan (Cerro Grande) 920 m |
| Residents | 436,900 457 inhabitants / km² |
| main place | Porlamar |
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The Isla Margarita is a Caribbean island that the territory of Venezuela belongs. It is part of the Lesser Antilles . It forms the main part of the state of Nueva Esparta . The capital of the state, La Asunción with its colonial church and Fort Santa Rosa is also located on it. The largest city is Porlamar . The area of the island is 956.8 km².
history
Before the arrival of the Europeans, the Guaiqueri , descendants of the Caribs and Arawaks, inhabited the island, which they called Paraguachoa (that means place with rich fishing grounds ); see also pre-Columbian cultures .
During his third voyage of discovery, Christopher Columbus discovered the island in August 1498 and named it after the massive occurrence of pearls ( Margarita means "pearl"). According to tradition, the pearl fishermen of the isles "discovered" it and the Spaniards are said to have given rich gifts.
Around 1560/1561 the island was briefly visited by the Spaniard Lope de Aguirre , who had canceled the Spanish Crown and established a 40-day reign of terror on the island. At that time, many, in Aguirre's opinion, unreliable soldiers and much of the local population were killed.
Today Isla de Margarita is a popular vacation and travel destination in the South Caribbean, with the majority of tourists being Germans and Dutch. The beaches of Playa el Agua and Playa Parguito in the northeast are well developed for tourism. The Laguna de la Restinga and the desert-like, hardly populated Macanao peninsula (both in the west) are worth seeing. In the south is El Yaque, which is considered one of the leading windsurfing areas in the world.
There is a ferry connection from the island port of Punta de Piedras to Puerto de la Cruz on the mainland.
Bigger cities
Porlamar
The southeast is the most densely populated area of Isla Margarita. There is the largest city on the island, Porlamar , which is considered the economic center of Margarita. The center of the city has narrow streets and streets with small shops. The most elegant shops are in the main streets of Avenida Santiago Mariño and 4 de Mayo, which run at 45 ° to each other . Further shopping opportunities are the Mercado de Conejero in the west and the Centro Sambil shopping center in the north. To the east, where the city spreads and enlarges, there are modern main streets and extensive residential areas. The composer Inocente Carreño was born here in 1919 . Porlamar has its own Isla de Margarita International Airport .
Pampatar
East of Porlamar is Pampatar, a smaller place with a beautiful beach promenade, many restaurants and about 35,000 inhabitants.
Juan Griego
A small town in the north of the island of Margarita with many small shops, a few restaurants right on the beach, and a small shopping center. Juan Griego's beaches are very popular because of the sunsets that can be seen there.
photos
La Guardia, Isla Margarita
Street scene in Porlamar
Street scene in Pampatar
Climate table
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Average monthly temperatures and rainfall for margarita
Source: WMO
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