The island is 9.2 by 3.6 km (5.7 by 2.2 mi) in size, an elliptical shape with the longer axis east-west. Its area is 22.438 km2 (9 sq mi). The coast consists of some beaches as well as cliffs from 5 to 7 metres (16 to 23 ft) high in the south and from 20 to 24 metres (66 to 79 ft) high in the north. The highest elevation of the flat-topped island reaches 32 metres (105 ft).
Climateedit
It is dry and lacks surface water bodies (the only freshwater is found in small underground reservoirs). Annual precipitation is 250 millimetres (10 inches), which is the value of a dry desert. Temperatures are close to 25 °C (77 °F) year-round with little fluctuation.
Vegetationedit
The desert-like (xerophytic) vegetation of the essentially barren island includes a number of cactus species such as Cardón de Dato (Ritterocereus griseus), Buche, Melón de Cerro, Sabana o Monte (Melocactus caesius), Guamacho (Pereskia guamacho), and Opuntia tuna as well as a few legumes (family Fabaceae) such as Mesquite (Prosopis juliflora), Divi-divi (Caesalpinia coriaria), Poorman's Friend (Stylosanthes viscosa), and the Sangre Drago (Croton flavens).[2]
Faunaedit
The island has small populations of hares, feral goats and a large population of dogs.[citation needed]
Transportationedit
The island of Cubagua has no streets or roads. It is served by ferries and other boats from Punta de Piedras, the capital of the municipality of Tubores located 8 km (5 mi) to the northeast on Isla Margarita. The passage takes less than 2 hours. The boat landing pier is located at the eastern end of Playa Charagato, the main settlement of Cubagua.[citation needed]
A lighthouse marking Punta Charagato lies in the northeast to aid the Isla Margarita ferry and another lighthouse is situated at Punta Brasil in the northwest to aid the ferries of Punta de Piedras and Puerto la Cruz.[citation needed]
Historyedit
The first human settlement on Cubagua has been dated to 2325 BC, a time within the Meso-Indian Period (5000-1000 BC).
In 1498, Cubagua was sighted by Christopher Columbus along with Margarita island. Later in 1499 Spanish expeditions returned to exploit abundant pearl oysters, enslaving the indigenous people and harvesting the pearls intensively. They became one of the most valuable resources of the incipient Spanish Empire in the Americas between 1508 and 1531, by which time the local indigenous population and the pearl oysters had been devastated.[3] In 1528, Cristóbal Guerra founded the city of Nueva Cádiz, the first settlement to hold the title of "city" in Venezuela.[4] The city became a synonym for the suppression by the Hispanic Conquistadores in South America.[4] Nueva Cádiz, which reached a population between 1,000 and 1,500, was destroyed in an earthquake followed by a tsunami in 1541.[5] The ruins have been declared a National Monument of Venezuela in 1979.
Human activity dates from the 24th century BC, but the first people did not settle here in a permanent fashion. Instead the island was used as a source of oysters, for food, and for pearls. The lack of vegetation or fresh water made permanent settlement nearly impossible. Today the island still has temporary fisherman, but few to no permanent residents.[6]
According to an unofficial population census conducted by the Instituto del Patrimonio Cultural in August 2007, the island had 51 residents of which 19 were children. The population resides in the following 4 communities in the island's northwest:
Playa Falucho
Playa Charagato (the largest settlement)
Punta Charagato
Punta la Cabecera (close to the ruins Nueva Cádiz)
In addition, on some maps a settlement called Punta Arenas appears in the Southwest. Satellite images reveal about 5 buildings at that site. A small settlement of about 4 buildings can be made out about midway between Punta La Horca (the westernmost point of Cubagua) and Punta Arenas south of Punta El Lamparo. A pair of buildings can be seen on the southern bay of Manglecito just east of Punta Manglecito.
The population exceeds 300 during the year when seasonal fishermen from the Venezuelan mainland state of Sucre are included.
In popular cultureedit
In 2015, Venezuelan director Jorge Thielen Armand made a short documentary about the island of Cubagua, Flor de la Mar.[7]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cubagua island.
detailed map (Geology)
(PDF). United States Government Publishing Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
November 02, 2023
cubagua, island, isla, cubagua, spanish, pronunciation, ˈisla, kuˈβaɣwa, smallest, least, populated, three, islands, constituting, venezuelan, state, nueva, esparta, after, margarita, island, coche, island, located, kilometres, north, araya, peninsula, closest. Cubagua Island or Isla de Cubagua Spanish pronunciation ˈisla de kuˈbaɣwa is the smallest and least populated of the three islands constituting the Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta after Margarita Island and Coche Island It is located 16 kilometres 10 mi north of the Araya Peninsula the closest mainland area Cubagua IslandNative name Isla de CubaguaMap of Cubagua IslandCubagua Island within Nueva EspartaGeographyLocationCaribbean SeaCoordinates10 48 42 N 64 11 35 W 10 81167 N 64 19306 W 10 81167 64 19306 1 ArchipelagoNueva EspartaHighest elevation29 m 95 ft 1 Administration VenezuelaRegionInsularState Nueva EspartaMunicipalityTuboresDemographicsDemonymCubaguense Contents 1 Geography 1 1 Topography 1 2 Climate 1 3 Vegetation 1 4 Fauna 1 5 Transportation 2 History 3 Administration 4 Population 5 In popular culture 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksGeography editTopography edit The island is 9 2 by 3 6 km 5 7 by 2 2 mi in size an elliptical shape with the longer axis east west Its area is 22 438 km2 9 sq mi The coast consists of some beaches as well as cliffs from 5 to 7 metres 16 to 23 ft high in the south and from 20 to 24 metres 66 to 79 ft high in the north The highest elevation of the flat topped island reaches 32 metres 105 ft Climate edit It is dry and lacks surface water bodies the only freshwater is found in small underground reservoirs Annual precipitation is 250 millimetres 10 inches which is the value of a dry desert Temperatures are close to 25 C 77 F year round with little fluctuation Vegetation edit The desert like xerophytic vegetation of the essentially barren island includes a number of cactus species such as Cardon de Dato Ritterocereus griseus Buche Melon de Cerro Sabana o Monte Melocactus caesius Guamacho Pereskia guamacho and Opuntia tuna as well as a few legumes family Fabaceae such as Mesquite Prosopis juliflora Divi divi Caesalpinia coriaria Poorman s Friend Stylosanthes viscosa and the Sangre Drago Croton flavens 2 Fauna edit The island has small populations of hares feral goats and a large population of dogs citation needed Transportation edit The island of Cubagua has no streets or roads It is served by ferries and other boats from Punta de Piedras the capital of the municipality of Tubores located 8 km 5 mi to the northeast on Isla Margarita The passage takes less than 2 hours The boat landing pier is located at the eastern end of Playa Charagato the main settlement of Cubagua citation needed A lighthouse marking Punta Charagato lies in the northeast to aid the Isla Margarita ferry and another lighthouse is situated at Punta Brasil in the northwest to aid the ferries of Punta de Piedras and Puerto la Cruz citation needed History editThe first human settlement on Cubagua has been dated to 2325 BC a time within the Meso Indian Period 5000 1000 BC In 1498 Cubagua was sighted by Christopher Columbus along with Margarita island Later in 1499 Spanish expeditions returned to exploit abundant pearl oysters enslaving the indigenous people and harvesting the pearls intensively They became one of the most valuable resources of the incipient Spanish Empire in the Americas between 1508 and 1531 by which time the local indigenous population and the pearl oysters had been devastated 3 In 1528 Cristobal Guerra founded the city of Nueva Cadiz the first settlement to hold the title of city in Venezuela 4 The city became a synonym for the suppression by the Hispanic Conquistadores in South America 4 Nueva Cadiz which reached a population between 1 000 and 1 500 was destroyed in an earthquake followed by a tsunami in 1541 5 The ruins have been declared a National Monument of Venezuela in 1979 nbsp Ruins of Nueva CadizAdministration editCubagua is part of the municipality of Tubores one of 11 municipalities of the state of Nueva Esparta citation needed Population editHuman activity dates from the 24th century BC but the first people did not settle here in a permanent fashion Instead the island was used as a source of oysters for food and for pearls The lack of vegetation or fresh water made permanent settlement nearly impossible Today the island still has temporary fisherman but few to no permanent residents 6 According to an unofficial population census conducted by the Instituto del Patrimonio Cultural in August 2007 the island had 51 residents of which 19 were children The population resides in the following 4 communities in the island s northwest Playa Falucho Playa Charagato the largest settlement Punta Charagato Punta la Cabecera close to the ruins Nueva Cadiz In addition on some maps a settlement called Punta Arenas appears in the Southwest Satellite images reveal about 5 buildings at that site A small settlement of about 4 buildings can be made out about midway between Punta La Horca the westernmost point of Cubagua and Punta Arenas south of Punta El Lamparo A pair of buildings can be seen on the southern bay of Manglecito just east of Punta Manglecito The population exceeds 300 during the year when seasonal fishermen from the Venezuelan mainland state of Sucre are included In popular culture editIn 2015 Venezuelan director Jorge Thielen Armand made a short documentary about the island of Cubagua Flor de la Mar 7 See also editCariaco BasinReferences edit a b Isla Cubagua Venezuela in Geonames org cc by Robert Kerr 1824 A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels W Blackwood p 392 J J Esparza Cubagua a b Venezuela By Leonard Victor Dalton Universidad Nueva Esparta Archived 2008 01 15 at the Wayback Machine Cubagua s Pearl Oyster Beds Archived March 6 2016 at the Wayback Machine 1 Archived 2015 06 18 at the Wayback MachineExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cubagua island Information about Cubagua Island Spanish detailed map Geology Coast of Venezuela Punta Penas to Cabo San Roman PDF United States Government Publishing Office Archived from the original PDF on 6 January 2016 Retrieved 28 June 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cubagua Island amp oldid 1152167922, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
