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Los Monjes Archipelago

The Los Monjes islands (Spanish: Archipiélago Los Monjes)[1] is a federal dependency[2] of Venezuela[3] are located to the northwest 80 kilometres (49.7 miles) of the Gulf of Venezuela, 34.8 kilometres (21.6 miles) off the coast of Guajira Peninsula at the border between Colombia and the Venezuelan state of Zulia.[4][5]

Geography

Caribbean Sea

12°22′N 70°54′W / 12.367°N 70.900°W / 12.367; -70.900

0.24 km2 (0.093 sq mi)

72 m (236 ft)

Federal Dependency

Monjes del Sur () consists of the two largest islands, connected by an artificial dam. The southern of the two islands reaches a height of 70 metres (230 ft) and has a lighthouse.

12°22′N 70°54′W / 12.367°N 70.900°W / 12.367; -70.900

Monjes del Este (), a small rock 5.3 km (3.3 mi) northeast of Monjes del Sur, reaches a height of 43 metres (141 ft).

12°24′N 70°51′W / 12.400°N 70.850°W / 12.400; -70.850

Monjes del Norte (), is 12.3 km (7.6 mi) NNW of Monjes del Este, and consists of five small rocks, the largest one of which reaches a height of 41 metres (135 ft).

12°30′N 70°55′W / 12.500°N 70.917°W / 12.500; -70.917

The islands consist of rocks rising steeply out of the sea, without any beaches or natural landing. The Venezuelan Navy maintains a base on El Sur, where it constructed a pier. The islands have no natural resources and must be supplied from the mainland. Fishing is the main activity around the islands, usually by fishing boats making the short trip from Guajira and the Paraguaná Peninsula.[9][10][11]


There are three islands or island groups, with a total area of 0.2 km2 (0.1 sq mi):[12][13]


In 2012 the Bolivarian Navy of Venezuela named a Damen Stan Lander 5612 landing craft after the islands.

Federal Dependencies of Venezuela

List of marine molluscs of Venezuela

List of Poriferans of Venezuela

photographs and information material

nautical information (Sailing Directions)

NASA satellite images