Patos Island (Venezuela)

Patos Island ( _es. Isla de Patos, Duck Island) is a small island in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. The island is a part of the "Dependencias Federales" (Federal Dependencies) of Venezuela.

Geography

Patos Island is located about 250 km (155 miles) northeast of Caracas in the "Golfo de Paria" (Gulf of Paria). The coordinates are coord|10|38|18|N|61|51|50|W|.

The uninhabited island has an area of only 0.65 square km (0,25 square miles) ( [http://www.pdvsa.com/lexico/excursio/exc-64os.htm 1] ) with a length of 1.1 km (0,68 miles) and 0,6 km (0.37 miles) wide with the highest point reaching about 100 meters (328 feet).

History

Patos Island used to be part of the former British colony Trinidad and Tobago.

On february 26 1942 the island became part of Venezuela and was put under the administration of the "Ministerio del Interior y de Justicia" (Ministry of Interior and Justice) ( [http://www.pdvsa.com/lexico/excursio/exc-64os.htm 2] ) as part of the Dependencias Federales.

On august 9 1972 the island, together with the other islands of the Dependencias Federales, were declared a national park ( [http://www.inparques.gob.ve/index.php?parques=view&codigo=pn_0009&sec=2 3] ) with the park being established on august 18th.

External links

* [http://www.pdvsa.com/lexico/excursio/exc-64os.htm About Patos Island]
* [http://www.igvsb.gov.ve/site2007/images/mp/Dependecias_Federales.jpgMap of the Dependencias Federales with location of Patos Island]
* [http://www.pdvsa.com/lexico/excursio/exc64os2.gifMap of Patos Island]
* [http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/4641941.jpgPicture of Patos Island]