Blanquilla is an island, one of the Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, located in the south-eastern Caribbean Sea about 293 km (182 miles) north-east of Caracas. It is a popular location for divers, as well as famous for its white sand beaches, for which it is named.

Geography

The island is formed by the Aves Ridge, a seafloor feature which protrudes above water to the north, forming several other islands. Its reefs are notable for their black coral, which is used for jewelry and other crafts. The island has an area of around 64.53 km2

Environment

The island's wildlife includes local cacti and green iguanas, as well as feral donkeys and goats. It, along with its surrounding waters, has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports significant populations of brown pelicans, brown and masked boobies, and yellow-shouldered amazons.

History

In 2014, assertions made by the Hong Kong media that Venezuela was considering transferring ownership of Blanquilla island to China in exchange for the forgiveness of its $50 billion in debt were denied by the Chinese government.