Blanquilla Island

Blanquilla is an island in the southeastern Caribbean Sea about 182 miles northeast of Caracas, Venezuela. It is a popular location for divers and the white sand beaches, for which it is named. The island's wildlife include local cacti and iguanas, as well as wild donkeys and goats. Its reefs are notable for their black coral, which is used for jewelry and other crafts. The island is formed by the Aves Ridge, a seafloor feature which protrudes above water to the north, forming several other islands. [http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17842] [http://www.mantleplumes.org/WebDocuments/CaribbeanPlateau.pdf]