Providencia and Santa Catalina Islands

Providencia y Santa Catalina Islas
municipality
Providencia and Santa Catalina Islands
Flag Seal
Providencia y Santa Catalina Islas
Coordinates: 13°21′N 81°22′W / 13.350°N 81.367°W / 13.350; -81.367Coordinates: 13°21′N 81°22′W / 13.350°N 81.367°W / 13.350; -81.367
Country	Colombia
Department	San Andres and Providencia
Region	Caribbean
Foundation	1853
Area
• Total	18 km2 (7 sq mi)
Elevation	2 m (7 ft)
Population (2006)
• Total	4,900 (approx.) (Census DANE 2,005)
Demonym	Providenciano (a)(s) (Spanish)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	57 + 8
Website	providencia-sanandres.gov.co (Spanish)

Providencia and Santa Catalina Islands ( in Spanish Providencia y Santa Catalina Islas) is a municipality of the department of Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina in insular Colombian region, on the northern coast of Providencia Island, as well as several uninhabited cayes to the North and East) had a population of 5,011 at the 2007 official estimates, and receives just 15,000 visitors per year. The island is one of Colombia's top scuba diving destinations, with a 32 km long barrier reef protecting the Eastern coast of the island (see photo to the right).

Geography

This is the main island of the Providencia group, and the second largest of the department. It is located at 13°21′N 81°22′W / 13.350°N 81.367°W / 13.350; -81.367 (Providencia Island). Providencia Island and Santa Catalina Island (a small satellite island close off its northern end) extend 7.2 km in a north-south direction. The land area of Providencia Island measures 17 km². The mountainous center of Providencia Island rises to three peaks of about the same elevation: roughly 363 meters. The island consists of sedimentary rocks laid down on a former volcano. The chief settlement is Santa Isabel Village aka 'Town' in the north, near Santa Catalina Island. Other villages are Lazy Hill on the west coast, and Bottom House in the southeast.

Low Cay, a very small islet, lies more than 10 km further north, at 13°32′N 81°21′W / 13.533°N 81.350°W / 13.533; -81.350 (Low Cay).

People

The Mosquito Indians first came into contact with the English when the Earl of Warwick established his colony at Providence Island in 1639, off the Central American Coast. He persuaded their King to send his son to England. This prince, known to his descendants as Oldman (or Oldham in old documents), was received in audience by King Charles I, who invested him with a hat of state and some instruments of insignia. He returned to the Mosquito Coast to find that his father had died during his absence, and that he was now King. His son and successor, Jeremy, visited Jamaica in February 1688 and placed himself and his people under English protection. Thereafter, all his successors were confirmed in their successions by virtue of a certificate of recognition from the Governor of Jamaica.

In the years that followed, small numbers of English and American settlers, escaped convicts and slaves, settled in several centres along the coast. Many of them intermarrying with the local tribes of Indians and leaving offspring who took part in the military and administrative affairs of the Mosquito kingdom. Relations between the Mosquitos and the Spanish had always been poor, but the increasing number of settlers increased tensions further. English commercial interest in hardwood logging in nearby Honduras exacerbated Spanish antagonism and apprehensions. Consequently, official British involvement in the region steadily increased. The Mosquito King and the British concluded a formal Treaty of Friendship and Alliance in 1740, followed by the appointment of a British Superintendent resident on the coast in 1749. His brief tenure included the establishment of a more formal protectorate over the Mosquito nation, advising the King, codifying the laws and formalising a system of land grants.

The local population consists of Raizals, a Protestant Afro-Caribbean ethnic group, speaking the San Andrés–Providencia Creole, an English Creole, although most speak Spanish as well. Spanish-speaking immigrants from Colombia have increased the use of Spanish, although they remain a minority, unlike the significantly more Spanish sister island, San Andrés.

A forum titled "San Andres & Providencia" Islands of Colombia reads “…This heritage goes back to pre-colonial times, to the days of the Dutch sea captains who inhabited San Andres and Old Providence, one of whom founded Bluefields, naming it after himself…”

Getting there

The local El Embrujo Airport is served by various daily flights from Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport in San Andrés. Flights are operated by Satena, as well as charter flights operated by Decameron/Searca.

A 50 seat catamaran makes a return trip from San Andres to Providencia Island every Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday. The boat trip takes 2 and a half hours, leaving San Andres in the morning, and returning to San Andres from Providencia in the afternoon.

Climate

References

1. ↑ "Cartas Climatologicas - Medias Mensuales - Aeropuerto El Embrujo (Providencia)" (in Spanish). Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales. Retrieved 26 October 2012.