BioIsland

Vieques , in full Isla de Vieques, is an island–municipality of Puerto Rico, United States in the northeastern Caribbean, part of an island grouping sometimes known as the Spanish Virgin Islands. Vieques is part of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and retains strong influences from 400 years of Spanish presence in the island. Vieques was struck by Hurricane Maria on Sept. 27, 2017. The storm caused widespread devastation and a near total shutdown of the island's tourism-based economy. The largest hotel on the island, The W, has not reopened since the storm, although most smaller hotels, bed and breakfasts, and Airbnb operators have resumed operations. Vieques lies about 8 miles east of the Puerto Rican mainland, and measures about 21 miles long by 4 miles wide. Its most populated barrio is Isabel Segunda , the administrative center on the northern side of the island. The population of Vieques was 9,301 at the 2010 Census. The island's name is a Spanish spelling of an Native American word said to mean small island. It also has the nickname Isla Nena, usually translated from Spanish as Little Girl Island, alluding to its perception as Puerto Rico's little sister. 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 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 and Green Beach. The beaches are commonly listed among the top beaches in the Caribbean for their azure-colored waters and white sands.
Continue reading...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.