Gulf of Darién | |
---|---|
Spanish:Golfo de Darién | |
![]() The Gulf of Darién, north of the isthmus of Darién in the Caribbean Sea | |
Location | Caribbean Sea |
Coordinates | 9°25′42″N77°3′40″W / 9.42833°N 77.06111°W /9.42833; -77.06111 |
Type | Gulf |
Basin countries | Colombia |
References | [1] |
TheGulf of Darién (UK:/ˈdɛəriən,ˈdær-/,US:/ˌdɛəriˈɛn,ˌdɑːr-,dɑːrˈjɛn/,Spanish:[daˈɾjen]) is the southernmost region of theCaribbean Sea, located north and east of the border betweenPanama andColombia. Within the gulf is theGulf of Urabá, a small lip of sea extending southward, between Caribana Point and Cape Tiburón, Colombia, on the southern shores of which is the port city ofTurbo, Colombia. TheAtrato River delta extends into the Gulf of Darién.[2][3][4][5][1]
The Gulf of Darién was the site of theDarien scheme, autonomousScotland's one major attempt at colonialism. The first expedition of five ships (Saint Andrew,Caledonia,Unicorn,Dolphin, andEndeavour) set sail fromLeith on July 14, 1698, with around 1,200 people on board.[6] Their orders were "to proceed to the Bay of Darien, and make the Isle called the Golden Island ... some few leagues to the leeward of the mouth of the great River of Darien ... and there make a settlement on the mainland".[7] After calling atMadeira and theWest Indies, the fleet made landfall off the coast of Darien on November 2. The settlers christened their new home "New Caledonia".[8]