Soldado Rock or Soldier's Rock, formerly known as Soldado Island, is a small island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is located in the Gulf of Paria 10 km off Icacos Point in Trinidad[1] and north of the Venezuelan mainland. The island was originally a possession of the Venezuelan government, but became part of the territory of Trinidad and Tobago in 1942. The island is a wildlife sanctuary since being declared in 1934.[1]
Soldado Rock is made up of limestone fossils from the Paleocene age[2] and includes Eocene rock formations.[3] The highest elevation point is 35 meters (115 ft) and its area is 1 ha (10,000 m2).[4] Reefs surround the island to the east for 1.2 km (0.75 miles), and to the south-south east and south-east.[5] There are no trees on the island but different types of vegetation including plumbago and portulaca.[4] There are other small rock formations near the island, including Pelican Rock and Black Rock.[5]
Aerial approach to Soldado Rock
These images were taken during an aerial survey of Soldado Rock, territory of Trinidad and Tobago
Pilot had to turn the aircraft directly above the rock because of very strict and close airspace restrictions by the Venezuelan authorities
History
Early history
On August 2, 1498, Christopher Columbus sailed near the island during his Third Voyage in the Serpent's Mouth and named the island El Gallo (Spanish for "The Cock").[6][7] Columbus anchored near the island and encountered native Amerindians in canoes prior to landing on Trinidad for the first time.[7] Its current name is derived from the Spanish word for "soldier". It was named in the 17th century after a Spanish boat shipwrecked near the island when a number of soldiers and sailors on board were rescued from the island.[8] In the 19th century, it was also referred to as Île du Soldat (French) as charted by Dauxion Lavaysse in 1813.[9]
Sooty tern (pictured here in the French Frigate Shoals) is one of the species of birds that nest on Soldado Rock
Wildlife sanctuary
The island was proclaimed a wildlife sanctuary in 1934[1] primarily for protection of seabirds granting it full legal protection by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry Division. Key species identified in the sanctuary protection include the sooty tern (Onychoprion fuscatus) and brown noddy (Anous stolidus).[4] The island is a nesting ground for these species during the months of March and July. Other species noted on the island include the sandwich tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis), grey-breasted martin (Progne chalybea), magnificent frigatebird (Fregata magnificens), and brown booby (Sula leucogaster).[4]
After Trinidad became a British colony in 1797 from Spain, Soldado Rock remained a disputed territory between Venezuela and British Trinidad and Tobago.[11] Negotiations for settling the border dispute and defining the maritime boundary between the two countries began in 1939[12] and were led by geologist Hans Kugler.[13] Negotiations were influenced by considerations for placing anti-submarine devices between Venezuela and T&T territory as World War II was underway.[14] As part of the negotiated agreement, Venezuela would cede Soldado Rock to T&T for Patos Island in the Dragon's Mouth,[15] located 4 km east of the Venezuelan mainland.[11] The agreements were formalized on February 26, 1942, in Caracas.[16][17]
Modern history
During World War II the island was used as target practice for bombing and machine guns, which led to some damage on the island.[4] The areas around the island form part of the Southwest Soldado Field, a hydrocarbon area important to the oil and gas industry in Trinidad. It is estimated that 43 million barrels of oil in proven reserves exist in the oilfield.[18] Production of the oilfield first started in 1955.[19]
The waters around Soldado Rock are popular for local fishermen due to an abundance of fish in the area, but are dangerous due to rapid tide changes and numerous rocks.[20] The area has been an issue of contention, with fishers from Trinidad and Tobago claiming to be arrested by the Venezuelan National Guard within T&T's maritime borders.[21][22][23] The area around the island has also seen piracy attacks on fishers and drug trade activity.[24][25][26][27][28]
^Dauxion Lavaysse (1813). "Carte de L'Île de la Trinidad et du Golfe de Paria". Retrieved September 11, 2015.
^ abGeorge G. Goodwin (December 17, 1965). "A New Subspecies of Zygodontomys brevicauda from Soldado Rock, Trinidad, the West Indies(Rodentia, Cricetidae)" (PDF). American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
^"Trinidad and Tobago Icons Volume 2" (PDF). National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST). 2009. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
^Curtis Williams (October 21, 2014). "Petrotrin restarts production from Southwest Soldado field". Oil and Gas Journal. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
^"T&T Parliament House of Representatives Hansard" (PDF). Trinidad and Tobago Parliament. January 10, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
^"Land bridge across Channel". Trinidad and Tobago Express. August 22, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
^Azard Ali (December 10, 2012). "Cedros still holding breath". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
^Michelle Loubon (September 26, 2011). "Fishermen suffer dire financial, stock losses". Trinidad Guardian. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
^Radhica Sookraj (November 29, 2012). "Cedros/Icacos fishermen appeal to Govt: Save us from Guardia Nacional". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
^Reshma Ragoonath (March 28, 2004). "Fisherman gunned down". Trinidad and Tobago Guard. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
^Azard Ali (April 29, 2009). "Venezuelan jailed for importing heroin". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
^"Man shot in pirate attack". Trinidad and Tobago Express. October 29, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
^"$1m in ganja in drug bust". Trinidad and Tobago Express. March 20, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
^"Attack at sea: Thieves in fast boats rob, terrorise fishermen in Trinidad waters". Trinidad and Tobago Express. January 18, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
References
Baptiste, Fitzroy André (1988). War, Cooperation, and Conflict: The European Possessions in the Caribbean, 1939-1945. ABC-CLIO. ISBN9780313254727.
Bourne, C. B. (1985). The Canadian Yearbook of International Law, Vol. 23. UBC Press. ISBN9780774844086.
Green, Francis Mathews (1885). The Navigation of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. U.S. Government Printing Office.
Ewan W., Anderson (2003). International Boundaries: A Geopolitical Atlas. Psychology Press. ISBN9781579583750.
IUCN Commission on National Parks (1982). IUCN Directory of Neotropical Protected Areas. IUCN. ISBN9780907567622.
Joseph, Edward Lanzar (1838). History of Trinidad. A.K. Newman & Co.
Maury, Carlotta Joaquina (1929). "The Soldado Rock Type Section of Eocene". The Journal of Geology. The University of Chicago Press. 37 (2): 177–181. Bibcode:1929JG.....37..177M. doi:10.1086/623603. S2CID 140705738.
Morison, Samuel Eliot (1986). The Great Explorers: The European Discovery of America. Oxford University Press. ISBN9780195042221.
April 30, 2023
soldado, rock, soldier, rock, formerly, known, soldado, island, small, island, republic, trinidad, tobago, located, gulf, paria, icacos, point, trinidad, north, venezuelan, mainland, island, originally, possession, venezuelan, government, became, part, territo. Soldado Rock or Soldier s Rock formerly known as Soldado Island is a small island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago It is located in the Gulf of Paria 10 km off Icacos Point in Trinidad 1 and north of the Venezuelan mainland The island was originally a possession of the Venezuelan government but became part of the territory of Trinidad and Tobago in 1942 The island is a wildlife sanctuary since being declared in 1934 1 Soldado RockSoldado RockLocation of Soldado Rock between Trinidad and VenezuelaGeographyCoordinates10 04 38 N 62 00 54 W 10 07722 N 62 01500 W 10 07722 62 01500 Coordinates 10 04 38 N 62 00 54 W 10 07722 N 62 01500 W 10 07722 62 01500Total islands1AdministrationTrinidad and TobagoDemographicsPopulationUninhabited 2015 Contents 1 Characteristics 2 History 2 1 Early history 2 2 Wildlife sanctuary 2 3 Ownership negotiations 2 4 Modern history 3 See also 4 Notes and references 4 1 Notes 4 2 ReferencesCharacteristics EditSoldado Rock is made up of limestone fossils from the Paleocene age 2 and includes Eocene rock formations 3 The highest elevation point is 35 meters 115 ft and its area is 1 ha 10 000 m2 4 Reefs surround the island to the east for 1 2 km 0 75 miles and to the south south east and south east 5 There are no trees on the island but different types of vegetation including plumbago and portulaca 4 There are other small rock formations near the island including Pelican Rock and Black Rock 5 Aerial approach to Soldado Rock These images were taken during an aerial survey of Soldado Rock territory of Trinidad and Tobago Pilot had to turn the aircraft directly above the rock because of very strict and close airspace restrictions by the Venezuelan authoritiesHistory EditEarly history Edit On August 2 1498 Christopher Columbus sailed near the island during his Third Voyage in the Serpent s Mouth and named the island El Gallo Spanish for The Cock 6 7 Columbus anchored near the island and encountered native Amerindians in canoes prior to landing on Trinidad for the first time 7 Its current name is derived from the Spanish word for soldier It was named in the 17th century after a Spanish boat shipwrecked near the island when a number of soldiers and sailors on board were rescued from the island 8 In the 19th century it was also referred to as Ile du Soldat French as charted by Dauxion Lavaysse in 1813 9 Sooty tern pictured here in the French Frigate Shoals is one of the species of birds that nest on Soldado Rock Wildlife sanctuary Edit The island was proclaimed a wildlife sanctuary in 1934 1 primarily for protection of seabirds granting it full legal protection by the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry Division Key species identified in the sanctuary protection include the sooty tern Onychoprion fuscatus and brown noddy Anous stolidus 4 The island is a nesting ground for these species during the months of March and July Other species noted on the island include the sandwich tern Thalasseus sandvicensis grey breasted martin Progne chalybea magnificent frigatebird Fregata magnificens and brown booby Sula leucogaster 4 A subspecies of the short tailed zygodont or common cane mouse Zygodontomys brevicauda soldadoensis was first identified on the island in 1965 and published in the American Museum of Natural History 10 Other animals observed on the island include the cane toad Rhinella marina and green iguana Iguana iguana 10 Ownership negotiations Edit After Trinidad became a British colony in 1797 from Spain Soldado Rock remained a disputed territory between Venezuela and British Trinidad and Tobago 11 Negotiations for settling the border dispute and defining the maritime boundary between the two countries began in 1939 12 and were led by geologist Hans Kugler 13 Negotiations were influenced by considerations for placing anti submarine devices between Venezuela and T amp T territory as World War II was underway 14 As part of the negotiated agreement Venezuela would cede Soldado Rock to T amp T for Patos Island in the Dragon s Mouth 15 located 4 km east of the Venezuelan mainland 11 The agreements were formalized on February 26 1942 in Caracas 16 17 Modern history Edit During World War II the island was used as target practice for bombing and machine guns which led to some damage on the island 4 The areas around the island form part of the Southwest Soldado Field a hydrocarbon area important to the oil and gas industry in Trinidad It is estimated that 43 million barrels of oil in proven reserves exist in the oilfield 18 Production of the oilfield first started in 1955 19 The waters around Soldado Rock are popular for local fishermen due to an abundance of fish in the area but are dangerous due to rapid tide changes and numerous rocks 20 The area has been an issue of contention with fishers from Trinidad and Tobago claiming to be arrested by the Venezuelan National Guard within T amp T s maritime borders 21 22 23 The area around the island has also seen piracy attacks on fishers and drug trade activity 24 25 26 27 28 See also EditList of islands of Trinidad and TobagoNotes and references EditNotes Edit a b c IUCN 1982 p 348 CLUES IN VENEZUELA to the GEOLOGY OF TRINIDAD AND VICE VERSA Amos Salvador and R M Stainforth 1965 Retrieved September 11 2015 Maury Vol 37 No 2 p 177 a b c d e IUCN 1982 p 349 a b Green 1885 p 84 Morison 1986 p 480 a b Joseph 1838 p 125 Joseph 1838 p 142 Dauxion Lavaysse 1813 Carte de L Ile de la Trinidad et du Golfe de Paria Retrieved September 11 2015 a b George G Goodwin December 17 1965 A New Subspecies of Zygodontomys brevicauda from Soldado Rock Trinidad the West Indies Rodentia Cricetidae PDF American Museum of Natural History Retrieved October 19 2015 a b Baptiste 1988 p 136 Bourne 1985 p 205 Trinidad and Tobago Icons Volume 2 PDF National Institute of Higher Education Research Science and Technology NIHERST 2009 Retrieved September 11 2015 Baptiste 1988 p 24 Anderson 2003 p 882 CONTINENTAL SHELF BOUNDARY TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO VENEZUELA PDF February 26 1942 Retrieved September 11 2015 Baptiste 1988 p 275 Curtis Williams October 21 2014 Petrotrin restarts production from Southwest Soldado field Oil and Gas Journal Retrieved September 11 2015 T amp T Parliament House of Representatives Hansard PDF Trinidad and Tobago Parliament January 10 2014 Retrieved September 11 2015 Land bridge across Channel Trinidad and Tobago Express August 22 2012 Retrieved September 11 2015 Azard Ali December 10 2012 Cedros still holding breath Trinidad and Tobago Newsday Retrieved September 11 2015 Michelle Loubon September 26 2011 Fishermen suffer dire financial stock losses Trinidad Guardian Retrieved September 11 2015 Radhica Sookraj November 29 2012 Cedros Icacos fishermen appeal to Govt Save us from Guardia Nacional Trinidad and Tobago Guardian Retrieved September 11 2015 Reshma Ragoonath March 28 2004 Fisherman gunned down Trinidad and Tobago Guard Retrieved September 13 2015 Azard Ali April 29 2009 Venezuelan jailed for importing heroin Trinidad and Tobago Newsday Retrieved September 13 2015 Man shot in pirate attack Trinidad and Tobago Express October 29 2013 Retrieved September 13 2015 1m in ganja in drug bust Trinidad and Tobago Express March 20 2014 Retrieved September 13 2015 Attack at sea Thieves in fast boats rob terrorise fishermen in Trinidad waters Trinidad and Tobago Express January 18 2009 Retrieved September 30 2015 References Edit Baptiste Fitzroy Andre 1988 War Cooperation and Conflict The European Possessions in the Caribbean 1939 1945 ABC CLIO ISBN 9780313254727 Bourne C B 1985 The Canadian Yearbook of International Law Vol 23 UBC Press ISBN 9780774844086 Green Francis Mathews 1885 The Navigation of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico U S Government Printing Office Ewan W Anderson 2003 International Boundaries A Geopolitical Atlas Psychology Press ISBN 9781579583750 IUCN Commission on National Parks 1982 IUCN Directory of Neotropical Protected Areas IUCN ISBN 9780907567622 Joseph Edward Lanzar 1838 History of Trinidad A K Newman amp Co Maury Carlotta Joaquina 1929 The Soldado Rock Type Section of Eocene The Journal of Geology The University of Chicago Press 37 2 177 181 Bibcode 1929JG 37 177M doi 10 1086 623603 S2CID 140705738 Morison Samuel Eliot 1986 The Great Explorers The European Discovery of America Oxford University Press ISBN 9780195042221 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Soldado Rock amp oldid 1136208881, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
