Hogg Island, Guyana facts for kids
The flow of the Essequibo River through Guyana to its estuary into the Atlantic Ocean
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Essequibo River |
| Coordinates | 6°49′27″N 58°31′54″W / 6.82417°N 58.53167°W |
| Archipelago | Essequibo Islands |
| Area | 23 sq mi (60 km2) |
| Administration | |
| Essequibo Islands-West Demerara | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | c. 250 (2020) |
Hogg Island, also known as Hog Island, is the biggest island in the Essequibo River in Guyana. It is located only 5 kilometers (about 3 miles) from where the river flows into the Atlantic Ocean. This area where the river meets the sea is called an estuary.
Hogg Island covers an area of 60 square kilometres (23 sq mi). This makes it larger than many islands in the Caribbean Sea. About 250 people lived on the island in 2020. Most of them are farmers. They grow crops like rice and "ground provisions," which are root vegetables.
The number of people living on Hogg Island has gone down over time. Many have moved to other parts of Guyana. However, the island still has a primary school for children and a church for the community.
Island History
Hogg Island has an interesting past. It was once controlled by the Dutch. They called it Varken Eiland, which means "Pig Island." They gave it this name because many wild pigs lived there.
In 1814, after the Napoleonic Wars ended, the British took control of the Dutch colonies. These colonies included Demerara, Berbice, and Essequibo. The Dutch were left with Suriname until 1975. The British decided to keep the name "Hogg Island" for the island.
The Old Windmill
On Hogg Island, there is a very old windmill. It is located on what used to be a plantation called Lyksburg. This windmill is special because it is the only one left in all of Guyana. It was built a long time ago, in 1768.
The National Trust of Guyana worked to fix up the windmill in 2010. They made sure it was restored and looked good again. Now, this historic windmill has been named a national monument. This means it is an important part of Guyana's history and is protected.
