Gaspar Grande

Gaspar Grande

Nickname: Gasparee
Gaspar Grande island pictured in the background, with Gasparillo Island in the right foreground
Gaspar Grande Location of Gaspar Grande off the north-western peninsular of Trinidad
Geography
Total islands	1
Area	1.29 km2 (0.50 sq mi)
Highest elevation	121 m (397 ft)
Administration
Trinidad and Tobago

Gaspar Grande or Gasparee is an island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago named for Gaspar de Percín. The island is 1.29 km² (0.50 square miles) in area and lies 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Port of Spain. It is one of the "Bocas Islands", which lie in the Bocas del Dragón (Dragon's Mouth) between Trinidad and Venezuela.

Gaspar Grande is primarily

.

Legend has it that another cave on the island, William Dampiers Tunnel, has a pirate's treasure chest which is easily accessible on certain days of the year.

History

In 1783, Gaspar Grande was granted to

on the island.

Places

, as indicated by its name, which is French for "whaling point". Located on the Southwestern end of Gaspar Grande, Point Baliene is one of the main drop off sites for visitors to the Gasparee Caves.

Bombshell Bay got its name from its historical past as there once was a fort located in this area. It is now a holiday resort.

.

Other landmarks on the island include Bordel Bay, Winn's Bay, Goodwill's Bay and St. Madeline Bay.

Fauna

Terrestrial vertebrate fauna of the island is a depauperate subset of that found on the main island of Trinidad. Given their ability to easily move over the narrow sea straights between both Trinidad and Venezuela, the most specious class of terrestrial vertebrates on the island are the birds. Among the birds commonly encountered on the island are

and several species of bats that make use of the limestone cave and sinkhole systems, tree cavities and even human built structures present.

See also

• Islands of Trinidad and Tobago

References

• ISBN 0-8108-3173-2
  .

10°40′N 61°39′W / 10.667°N 61.650°W / 10.667; -61.650