Vieques
Puerto Rico /
Humacao /
Vieques /
PR-200
World
/ Puerto Rico
/ Humacao
/ Vieques
World / Puerto Rico
city, island, village, municipality
Vieques (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈbjekes]; English: /viːˈeɪkɨs/), in full Isla de Vieques, is an island-municipality of Puerto Rico in the northeastern Caribbean, part of an island grouping sometimes known as the Spanish Virgin Islands. Although Puerto Rico is a U.S. Commonwealth, Vieques, like the rest of Puerto Rico, retains strong Spanish influences from 400 years of Spanish ownership.
Vieques lies about 8 miles (13 km) to the east of the Puerto Rican mainland, and measures approximately 21 miles (34 km) long by 4 miles (6 km) wide. The two main towns of Vieques are Isabel Segunda (sometimes written "Isabel II"), the administrative center located on the northern side of the island, and Esperanza, located on the southern side. At peak, the population of Vieques is around 10,000.
The island's name is a Spanish spelling of a Native American word said to mean "small island". It also has the nickname "Isla Nena", usually translated from the Spanish as "Little Girl Island", as a reference to its being perceived as Puerto Rico's little sister island. During the colonial period the British name was "Crab Island".
Vieques is best known internationally as the site of a series of protests against the United States Navy's use of the island as a bombing range and testing ground, which eventually led to the Navy's departure in 2003. Today the former Navy land is a national wildlife refuge, with numerous beaches that still retain the names given by the Navy, including Red Beach, Blue Beach, Green Beach and others. The beaches are commonly listed among the top beaches in the Caribbean for their azure-colored waters and white sands.
Vieques lies about 8 miles (13 km) to the east of the Puerto Rican mainland, and measures approximately 21 miles (34 km) long by 4 miles (6 km) wide. The two main towns of Vieques are Isabel Segunda (sometimes written "Isabel II"), the administrative center located on the northern side of the island, and Esperanza, located on the southern side. At peak, the population of Vieques is around 10,000.
The island's name is a Spanish spelling of a Native American word said to mean "small island". It also has the nickname "Isla Nena", usually translated from the Spanish as "Little Girl Island", as a reference to its being perceived as Puerto Rico's little sister island. During the colonial period the British name was "Crab Island".
Vieques is best known internationally as the site of a series of protests against the United States Navy's use of the island as a bombing range and testing ground, which eventually led to the Navy's departure in 2003. Today the former Navy land is a national wildlife refuge, with numerous beaches that still retain the names given by the Navy, including Red Beach, Blue Beach, Green Beach and others. The beaches are commonly listed among the top beaches in the Caribbean for their azure-colored waters and white sands.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vieques
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 18°7'14"N 65°25'21"W
- St. Thomas, USVI 50 km
- St. Croix, USVI 67 km
- St. John, USVI 72 km
- Tortola 84 km
- Virgin Gorda 112 km
- Anguilla 239 km
- Saint Martin 240 km
- Saint Kitts 282 km
- Nevis 313 km
- Montserrat (British Overseas Territory) 367 km
- Vieques Maritime Zone 0.5 km
- Puerto Ferro 1.1 km
- Florida 5.2 km
- Puerto Real 5.6 km
- Puerto Diablo 7.4 km
- Mosquito 11 km
- Spanish Virgin Islands 11 km
- Llave 12 km
- Punta Arenas 15 km
- Ceiba Maritime Zone 21 km
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