Toas island facts for kids
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Maracaibo Lake, Caribbean Sea |
| Coordinates | 10°57′30″N 71°38′50″W / 10.95833°N 71.64722°W |
| Area | 3 km2 (1.2 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| State | Zulia |
Toas Island (called "Isla de Toas" in Spanish) is a small island in Venezuela. It is made mostly of limestone. You can find it in the northwest of Venezuela, just north of Maracaibo Lake. It's near Zapara island and the San Carlos peninsula. Together, these islands help form the "Barra del Lago de Maracaibo", which is like a natural barrier at the entrance of the lake. Toas Island is part of the Almirante Padilla Municipality in the Zulia state.
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Island Location and Size
Toas Island is located about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) south of the San Carlos peninsula. This peninsula is part of the sand-bar on the western side of Maracaibo Lake. The island is also about 5 kilometers (3 miles) east of San Rafael del Moján. This is a small town on the western coast of the lake.
Natural Resources of Toas Island
Toas Island covers an area of about 3 square kilometers (1.2 square miles). The island has several interesting natural features.
- Salt Ponds: There are natural salt ponds called "El Toro" and "Aracho." These ponds are where salt is collected.
- Mines: The island has a mine for sulphurous lignite. Lignite is a type of soft coal. There are also several limestone caves. People have been using these caves to get limestone since the time of the Spanish colonies.
- Other Materials: In the southern part of the island, there are clay caves that were also used by the Spanish. A small copper mine can also be found here.
- Cement Industry: Because there is so much limestone on the island, a small cement industry has grown there.
People and Communities
The main village on Toas Island is called El Toro (Zulia). It is a fishing village and is also the capital of the Almirante Padilla Municipality.
Village Life
El Toro has a dock on its northern side. This dock can be used by medium-sized ships. The small town also has a church and several shops. These buildings are usually found around a typical Spanish square, which is called Plaza Bolivar.
See also
