Isla Aves
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Isla de Aves (Spanish for 'Island of Birds') is a Caribbean islet with soverignty disputed between Dominica and Venezuela. It lies to the west of the Leeward Islands chain at . It is 375 meters in length and never more than 50 meters in width, and rises 4 m above the sea on a calm day. It is sometimes completely submerged during hurricanes. It is 115 miles southwest of Montserrat, 70 miles west of Dominica and 340 miles north of the Venezuela mainland.
For some time the island has been in danger of eroding altogether, and the Venezuelan authorities are considering ways to protect it, along with the territorial claims to the Caribbean Sea which radiate from 'Island of Birds'. The impact of Hurricane Allen in the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season divided it into two parts, but accretions of coral have subsequently reunited it. Mostly sand, a small portion has some scrubby vegetation.
In 1950, a Venezuelan Navy fleet consisting of 2 patrol boats and 1 transport boat reached the island and a group of soldiers effectively took control of the island. Twenty-eight years later in 1978, the Venezuelan Navy set up a Scientific Naval Base named "Simón Bolívar", which was permanently inhabited by a group of scientists and military personnel.
The Venezuelan military in 2004 expanded the Naval base which was raised on stilts above the water. Several Caribbean island states, including Dominica, have asserted to the UN that Venezuela's claim to an extensive Exclusive Economic Zone of up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) from Isla de Aves is illegal. They cite the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea provision that prohibits isolated, tiny islets from being used to make any claim beyond the 12 nautical mile (22 km) territorial sea limit. Venezuela is not a signatory to that UN Convention.
With the joint-signing of the PetroCaribe S.A. agreement between Venezuela and many of the Caribbean states, there may be decreased pressure by Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to continue pushing the sovereignty issue.
The island is a resting and breeding place for seabirds and the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas). Its low profile makes it a hazard to navigation, and many ships have been wrecked here.
It is not to be confused with the Islas Las Aves in the Los Roques group much nearer to the Venezuelan mainland.
[edit] History
The island was most likely discovered by Avaro Sanzze in 1584, though it was not settled. It was subsequently claimed for Britain, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. From 1878 to 1912 the island was occupied by American guano miners until supplies were eventually exhausted.
Isla de Aves was included in Venezuela's territorial reorganization done by President Joaquin Crespo in 1895. By 1905, Isla de Aves was a municipality called "Municipio Oriental" part of Colon Federal Territory.
Aves Island is a particularly rare amateur radio "entity." In 2006 an expedition by operators to the island required 14 years of planning. Despite the fatal heart attack of one member, over 42,000 contacts were made during their week-long stay.
[edit] External links
- Venezuelan Island of Aves
- Venezuelan Territory Isla de Aves
- Aves Island Venezuela
- Page on the island, with maps and images
- Images and information about the island
- Official Communique from the CARICOM heads of government -- Subheader OECS-Venezuela
- BIRD ISLAND: TIME TO ACT - Editorial on the Commonwealth of Dominica taking steps to reclaim sovereignty over the island.
- Aves Island a Strategic Island in the Caribbean Sea - by Thomson Fontaine - Should Dominica Stake a Claim to the Island? (The Dominican, October 21, 2002)
- [1] 2006 amateur radio activity, including pictures.
- NASA Earth Observatory
[edit] Articles and papers
- "Island' talk for Caricom, Venezuela - (July 7th, 2006) - Barbados NationNews
- OECS searching for Bird Island solution - (March 16th, 2006) - Caribbean Net News
- Shock over Bird Island - (November 10th, 2005) - Barbados Advocate News
- Drama over Bird Island (November 10th, 2005) - Barbados Advocate News
- OECS raps Caracas' claim to island (November 9th, 2005) - Barbados NationNews
- Caricom to meet over Aves Island (October 24th, 2005) - Barbados NationNews
- History proves Venezuelan onwership of Isla de Aves
- VicePresident Rangel thinks that the "empire" is behind claim to Aves Island
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