Corn Islands
The Corn Islands ( Islas del Maiz Spanish, translated "Corn Islands "), a group of islands about seventy kilometers east of Bluefields, Nicaragua is located in the Caribbean Sea.
Geography and population
The Corn Islands consist of two islands with a total area of 12.9 km ² and a population of 7,429 (2007).
Big Corn Iceland is the main island with an area of 10 square kilometers and a population of 6,731 ( 90.6 percent), which is located in the north of Mount Pleasant Hill, at 113 meters the highest peak of the islands.
The smaller island is called Little Corn Iceland. They reached the Lookout Point in its northern portion has a height of 38 meters. Here live 698 inhabitants to 3.1 km ².
In addition to the two islands is still the volcanic rocks Blowing Rock to mention, which is approximately 12.7 km south of Great Corn Iceland. Blowing Rock only protrudes 1.2 meters from the water and measuring just a few meters in diameter, but rises steeply 30 meters above the surrounding seabed. In the middle there is a hole through which the sea water is periodically pressed vertically upwards. This phenomenon is reminiscent of the blowing of whales. This circumstance is eponymous for the object.
The islands form the municipality ( municipio ) of the Región Autónoma del Corn Iceland Atlántico Sur in Nicaragua. The municipality is divided into six barrios ( neighborhoods ), of which five on Big Corn Iceland and the sixth located on Little Corn Iceland. The populous by far the largest and most densely populated barrio, Brig Bay, where the town hall ( Alcaldía ) is the community and the Corn Iceland Airport, is further divided into two sectors ( for sector ) divided :: Promar and Nandaime. Little Corn Iceland is the largest area, but also the least populated barrio.
Brig Bay on the Bay is the largest town with 59.3 percent of the community population.
The English language is widely used because the ancestors of the islanders mostly come from the West Indies.
Climate, flora, fauna
The climate on the islands is tropical, with the typical switch between dry and rainy season. October and November are the months with the highest rainfall, the dry season begins in late December and ends in May.
History
On old maps the islands Islas de los Manglares hot. They were first colonized by the British. Along with the eastern half of present-day Nicaragua, they formed a British protectorate from 1655 to 1894. The area was known as Mosquito Coast (Mosquito Coast).
In those early years of colonization, the islands mainly pirates served as hideouts. From 1894 claimed Nicaragua islands.
1914, the islands were leased to the United States because of the Bryan - Chamorro Treaty for 99 years. After the lease the islands remained true part of Nicaragua, however, were American laws. The U.S. government tacitly tolerated the local administration of the islands by the Nicaraguan authorities. The lease has been set by the government of President Anastasio Somoza Debayle on July 14, 1970 expire.
The main source of income in the first half of the 20th century was the coconut production. In the 60s and 70s of the 20th century, the fishing became the main part of the island economy. Even today, the catch of lobster and crayfish is dominant.
1988 both islands were hit by Hurricane Joan, who then in Bluefields reached the coast and left a trail of devastation across Nicaragua. Great Corn Iceland was completely destroyed and Little Corn Iceland strongly affected. Joan was one of only seven storms that raged on their way through the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean on.
Traffic
The main island of Big Corn Iceland is accessible by the weekly ferry service from El Rama, by the river Escondido. Furthermore, there is a flight connection with La Costeña to Managua with a stop in Bluefields.
Little Corn Iceland to twice daily by ferry from Big Corn Iceland.
Twinning
- Waterford, California, USA