Throughout our planet, there are numerous enchanting places. These fantastic locations are tourist destinations and possess immeasurable beauty. Among these places are the Leeward Islands . These islands belong to the Lesser Antilles. They are a group of islands located between the Netherlands and Venezuela.
In this article we are going to tell you what the Leeward Islands are and what their characteristics are.
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands belonging to the Netherlands and Venezuela, located off the Venezuelan coast at the easternmost point of Puerto Rico. Regarding Venezuela, it's important to note that its territory extends beyond its mainland to include the Caribbean Sea, where it owns and has sovereignty over 89 islands . These islands are federally controlled by Venezuela.
The federal territories of Venezuela include all areas not encompassed by the Venezuelan federal entity and the capital region, as well as islands within Venezuelan territorial waters. These islands possess unique characteristics compared to other Caribbean island groups, making them special in terms of geography and ecology, particularly their geographical features.
Respecting appropriate Caribbean regulations, Venezuela can use the islands within its territorial waters for entertainment, finance, sports, and many other activities, as long as it does not violate international restrictions or laws. For more information on the various formations, you can consult the magnitude of Hurricane Maria.
Venezuela knows how to mark maritime territorial lines along with five other countries that also have islands in the Caribbean, these countries are the following: United States of America, France, Netherlands, Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago.
Characteristics of the Leeward Islands
These islands, belonging to the Venezuelan maritime territory and part of the Leeward Islands group, typically experience average annual temperatures between 26 and 28°C and approximately 300 to 500 millimeters of rainfall per year. According to a 2015 census, the total population of these islands, which extend into Venezuelan waters, is only 6.500, an area considered uninhabited by Venezuela.
After Spain recognized Venezuela as a free and sovereign nation, the country took control of the islands in the southeastern Caribbean Sea and enacted a law of territorial and political division in 1856, establishing the province of Margarita, now known as Margarita Island. The Leeward Islands are characterized by rich biodiversity and an appealing tropical climate, making them a perfect place to explore volcanoes and other geological features.
For many years, many presidents sought to classify the islands belonging to Venezuela and ignored other islands. However, subsequent presidents realized that these excluded islands are also part of the national maritime territory. These islands are: Pájaro Island, Coch Island, and Margarita Island.
During their administration, JoaquÃn Crespo, Cipriano Castro, and others have recognized that these islands are indeed Venezuelan maritime territories and have taken the necessary measures, thus recognizing them as part of Venezuela.
Archipelago The Witnesses
The Archipelago Los Testigos is a group of islands belonging to Sotavento Island and also a federal territory of Venezuela, therefore it is under the control and supervision of the Venezuelan government authorities.
Located in the northeast of Margarita Island, the Los Testigos Archipelago has a population of 197 inhabitants according to the 2001 census . Most of these residents are from Margarita Island and are related to one another. The islands are accessible by boat and motorboat. The archipelago comprises a total of eight islands, with a combined area of ​​approximately 6,53 square kilometers. The islands that make up the Los Testigos Archipelago are as follows:
- Big Witness Island: It is the largest in the archipelago.
- Rabbit Island: It is the second largest in the archipelago.
- Iguanas: It is located to the southwest of the archipelago and is the third largest of the same.
- Morro Blanco Island: It is the southern island of all and is uninhabited.
- Northeast Island: It is located northeast of the main island and is the most isolated of all.
- gust: It is located to the east of the main island and has a fairly pronounced division in the hill that forms it, which gives rise to its peculiar name.
- The goat: Located east of Isla Iguana.
- Rock of Outside: It is one of the smallest islets or rocks of the archipelago.
Some history
In the past, these islands were important political and religious centers, and from here other islands of Polynesia were colonized. The great chieftains of Tahiti have their roots in these islands. Raiatea is a religious center with a temple that refers to other islands. Bora Bora has a very militant population and enormous political influence.
The first European to visit them was the Dutchman Jacob Roggeveen in 1722. But the Briton James Cook explored the larger islands several times between 1769 and 1779 and named them the Society Islands. He explained that the name was because the islands were continuous, but someone suggested it was to commemorate the Royal Society of London, which financed the expedition. Later, the name became known throughout the archipelago.
To learn more about the influence of atmospheric phenomena on the islands, it is interesting to review .
After France established a colony on the Windy Islands in 1880, the Leeward Islands refused to integrate and were jealous of their independence. Between 1889 and 1897 there was a long insurrectionary situation in the so-called Leeward Island War.
Geography of the Leeward Islands
The archipelago consists of five islands and four atolls organized into seven communes. From east to west they are:
- Huahine, constituted as a commune.
- Raiatea, divided into 3 communes, with Uturoa as the capital.
- Tahaa, constituted as a commune.
- Bora Bora, constituted as a commune.
- Tupai, Bora Bora dependent atoll.
- Maupiti, constituted as a commune.
- Maupihaa, Maupiti dependent atoll.
- Motu One, an atoll dependent on the territorial administration.
- Manuae, an atoll dependent on the territorial administration.
With the exception of the smaller atolls, these islands are all mountainous volcanoes. They are made of trachyte, diabase, and basalt, and their formation is fascinating. The volcano has been dormant for a long time, and the crater has been severely eroded, forming deep valleys. They are surrounded by coral reefs, which enclose the saltwater lake and protect the fertile coastline . The total area of ​​excavated land is almost 400 square kilometers.
The vegetation includes breadfruit, vanilla and coconut trees. Land animals are limited to wild boars, rats, and newts. On the contrary, fishing activities on coral reefs are rich and varied.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the leeward islands and their characteristics.