Insular Region, Venezuela Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Insular Region Región Insular
Geographic/Natural and Administrative Region
Cayo de Agua Island, Los Roques archipelago
Geographic map of Insular natural region
Country	Venezuela
State	Nueva Esparta
Region	Caribbean Sea

The Insular Region (Región Insular) is a special part of Venezuela. It's one of the country's natural areas and also one of its administrative regions. This region includes all of Venezuela's islands! It is made up of the state of Nueva Esparta and the Federal Dependencies, which are groups of islands controlled directly by the government.

History of the Insular Region
- Early Explorers and Independence
- Island Control and New Laws
Geography of the Islands
- Island Population
- Waterways and Streams
Economy and Tourism
Gallery
See also

History of the Insular Region

The history of the Insular Region is very interesting! It starts with the arrival of explorers and continues through important changes for Venezuela.

Early Explorers and Independence

On August 15, 1498, during his third trip, Christopher Columbus arrived at Margarita Island. On that same journey, he also saw the mainland of Venezuela. That day, Columbus spotted three islands. Two of them were small, low, and dry. These are known today as Coche and Cubagua.

Later, on April 19, 1810, Margarita was one of the seven provinces in Venezuela that declared independence from the Spanish Crown. In 1830, when the country of Gran Colombia broke apart, Venezuela became an independent republic. Margarita was one of its 13 original provinces.

Island Control and New Laws

On November 8, 1777, King Charles III of Spain made a rule. This rule said that the Spanish islands near the southeast Caribbean Sea would be part of the Captaincy General of Venezuela. After Venezuela became independent, all these islands stayed under Venezuela's control.

On August 22, 1871, Venezuelan President Antonio Guzmán Blanco made a big decision. He grouped almost all the Venezuelan islands together. The only ones not included were Coche, Cubagua, Margarita, and Isla de Aves. This new group was called the Federal Territory of Columbus. A governor chosen by the President would manage it.

There was a time when the United Kingdom wanted the Isla de Patos. However, on February 26, 1942, an agreement was reached about the land and sea in the Gulf of Paria. The Los Monjes Archipelago was also a topic of discussion. Venezuela said it was part of its territory. In 1952, Colombia's Foreign Minister agreed that Venezuela had control over it. In 1992, the Colombian government confirmed they would not claim the territory.

In October 2011, a new law was passed for the Federal Dependencies and island territories. This law created the Insular Territory Francisco de Miranda. It brought together Los Roques, La Orchila, Isla de Aves, and Las Aves under one management.

Geography of the Islands

The Insular Region is the smallest region in Venezuela. Its main feature is that it is made up of many small islands. The weather here is warm and tropical. The biggest islands in Venezuela are found in the state of Nueva Esparta and the Federal Dependencies.

Island Population

Most of the people in the Insular Region live in the state of Nueva Esparta. About 400,000 people call this state home. The Federal Dependencies have fewer people, with over 2,150 residents. Most of these people live on Gran Roque island in the Los Roques Archipelago. About 1,471 people live there, according to Venezuela's National Institute of Statistics.

San Juan Valley, a beautiful area on Margarita Island

Waterways and Streams

When it comes to water, the Insular Region only has small streams. This is because most of its land is made up of small islands in the Caribbean Sea.

Economy and Tourism

The economy of the Insular Region mostly depends on tourism. People love to visit because of its beautiful landscapes and beaches. Nueva Esparta and the Federal Dependencies are very popular places for both Venezuelans and visitors from other countries to spend their holidays. Fishing is also an important activity around the islands.

The Los Roques Archipelago is one of the country's biggest tourist spots. It has many different beaches and small islands called cays. Tourists from all over the world come to enjoy these amazing places.