Las Aves Archipelago
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The Las Aves Archipelago is part of the Federal Dependencies of Venezuela. It is located north of the Venezuelan states of Aragua and Carabobo, between Bonaire in the west, and the Los Roques Archipelago in the east, at . The prime economic importance of the islands lies in fishing.
The archipelago consists of two atoll-like reef complexes:
- Aves de Barlovento, the eastern group, with a fringing reef of 8 km of diameter and with three cays in the southwest
- Aves de Sotavento, the western group, with a large mangrove-covered cay in the south
In total, there are 13 islets in both groups. The archipelago is not to be confused with Aves Island, which is the most remote island of Venezuela, far to the north.
Las Aves was the site of a major naval disaster in 1678, when a French fleet commanded by Admiral Jean d'Estrees was wrecked on the reefs of Aves de Barlovento.
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