Cayos Cochinos

The Cayos Cochinos are a group of islands belonging to Honduras in the Caribbean Sea. They consist of two islands ( Cochino Menor and Cochino Mejor ) and 14 small coral islands. Some of these are uninhabited or belong to individual persons. The archipelago is located approximately 30 kilometers northeast of La Ceiba; The islands have a total area of ​​just over 2 km ². According to the 2001 census, the population was 108 The larger settlements are Lower Monitor ( 46) East End (35 ) and Cayo Redondo (Round Cay ) (17 inhabitants). The archipelago is indeed closer to the Honduran mainland coast than to the Islas de la Bahía, but belongs administratively to the municipality of Roatan in the department of Islas de la Bahía.

On Cochino Menor is a research station for conducting research and monitoring work of coral reefs and is occurring animal and plant world. The islands are visible in clear weather from the coast. The Cayos Cochinos are part of the second largest barrier reef, also known as the Meso - American Barrier Reef.

The Smithsonian Institution, The Nature Conservancy, the World Wildlife Fund and the World Bank have the meaning of Cayos explains an important part of the barrier reef, whose protection has priority. The located therein reefs are considered the most pristine in the ecosystem of the Honduran Bay Islands.

Cayos Cochinos 1993 were declared by a presidential decree for the first time to a natural reserve. In 2003, the area by the State Honduras also as a Marine Protected Area ( Monumento Natural Marino, literally " marine natural monument" ) were recorded.