- Providencia Island
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overhead view of part of the island's coast
Manzanillo beachIsla de Providencia or Old Providence is a mountainous Caribbean island. Though it is closer to Nicaragua, it is part of the Archipelago of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina, a department of Colombia, lying midway between Costa Rica and Jamaica. Its maximum elevation is 360m above sea level.
The island was the site of an English Puritan colony established in 1629 by the Providence Island Company, and was taken by Spain in 1641. The infamous pirate Henry Morgan used Providencia as a base for raiding the Spanish empire, and rumours suggest that much treasure remains hidden on the island.
Providencia has a population of 5,000 yet receives about 15,000 visitors per year. The island is also a scuba diving destination, with a 32 km long barrier reef protecting the Eastern and North/South parts of the island.
A local population of Black Land Crabs is noteworthy for its spectacular breeding migration.[1]
The 995-hectare national park Old Providence McBean Lagoon is located on the island's northeast side.
A unique sign language is signed on the island.
Contents
People
The local population consists of Raizals, a Protestant Afro-Caribbean ethnic group, speaking the San Andrés-Providencia Creole, an English Creole, although most speak Spanish as well. Spanish-speaking immigrants from Colombia have increased the use of Spanish, although they remain a minority, unlike the significantly more Spanish sister island, San Andres.
A forum titled "San Andres & Providencia" Islands of Colombia reads “…This heritage goes back to pre-colonial times, to the days of the Dutch sea captains who inhabited San Andres and Old Providence, one of whom founded Bluefields, naming it after himself…”
Getting there
The local El Embrujo Airport is served by various daily flights from Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport in San Andrés. Flights are operated by Satena, as well as charter flights operated by Decameron/Searca.
A 30 seater catarmaran makes a return trip from San Andres to Providencia Island every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The boat trip takes 2 and a half hours, leaving San Andres in the morning, and returning to San Andres from Providencia in the afternoon.
Notes
References
- "The Geology Of Providencia". http://www.caribbeanvolcanoes.com/providencia/geology.htm. Retrieved 2006-05-12.
- Kupperman, Karen Ordahl (1993). Providence Island, 1630-1641 : The Other Puritan Colony. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-35205-3.
External links
- Providencia Es Pasion - tourism website.
Coordinates: 13°20′56″N 81°22′29″W / 13.34889°N 81.37472°W
Categories:- Islands of the West Caribbean
- Caribbean islands of Colombia
- Former English colonies
- Islands of San Andrés y Providencia
- Caribbean Region (Colombia) geography stubs
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