Los Testigos Islands facts for kids
Los Testigos Islands
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Caribbean Sea |
| Coordinates | 11°22′59″N 63°05′50″W / 11.38306°N 63.09722°W |
| Administration | |
 Federal dependencies of Venezuela |
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The Los Testigos Islands are a group of islands in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. Their name means "Witnesses Islands" in Spanish. These islands are part of the Federal Dependencies of Venezuela.
Contents
Where Are the Los Testigos Islands?
The Los Testigos Islands are found in the Caribbean Sea. They are about 400 kilometers (250 miles) northeast of Caracas, Venezuela's capital city. They are also about 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of Isla Margarita. The islands cover a total area of about 6.53 square kilometers (2.52 square miles).
Islands and Rocks
The Los Testigos group includes six main islands and several smaller rock islets. The main island is called Isla Testigo Grande.
The larger islands are:
- Isla Testigo Grande (the main island)
- Isla Conejo (east of the main island)
- Isla Iguana (south of the main island)
- Isla Morro Blanco (south of the main island)
- Isla Noreste (northeast of the main island)
- Isla Rajado (east of the main island)
The larger rock islets are:
- El Chivo
- Peñón de Fuera
Who Lives on the Islands?
Around 200 people live on the Los Testigos Islands. Most of them are families who make their living by fishing. There is also a small military base on the main island. It is run by the Venezuelan navy.
A Brief History of the Islands
In 1938, the Los Testigos Islands became part of the Dependencias Federales. This means they were placed under the care of Venezuela's Ministry of Interior and Justice.
Later, on August 9, 1972, these islands were declared a national park. This was done to protect their natural beauty and wildlife. The park was officially set up on August 18 of that same year.
See Also
- Federal Dependencies of Venezuela
- List of marine molluscs of Venezuela
- List of Poriferans of Venezuela
