Corn Islands | |
|---|---|
Municipality | |
 View of the Corn Islands | |
 Flag | |
| Motto: The Eden of the Caribbean of Nicaragua | |
| Anthem: Corn Island song | |
  Corn Islands Location in Nicaragua | |
| Coordinates:12°10′N83°02′W / 12.167°N 83.033°W /12.167; -83.033 | |
| Country |  Nicaragua |
| Region |  South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region |
| Established | 1400 |
| Founded by | British |
| Seat | Brig Bay |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council government |
| • Mayor | Cleaveland Webster (FSLN) |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 3.5 sq mi (9.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 371 ft (113 m) |
| Population (2023 estimate)[1] | |
• Municipality | 7,912 |
| • Urban | 7,912 |
| Time zone | Central Standard Time |
| Postal code | 82100 |
| Area code | +505 |
| Website | www.cornisland.gob.ni |
TheCorn Islands are twoislands in theCaribbean Sea about 70 kilometres (43 mi) off the coast of Central America, constituting one of 12municipalities of theSouth Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region of Nicaragua. The official name of the municipality isCorn Islands (the English name is officially used in Spanish-speaking Nicaragua).[2] The archipelago consists of Great Corn Island and Little Corn Island.
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According to Edward Conzemius, a Frenchethnologist fromLuxembourg, in 1929 he stated in his articleLes Îles Corn du Nicaragua (The Corn Islands of Nicaragua), that the first inhabitants of Corn Island were the IndigenousKukras, who were exterminated by the also IndigenousMiskitos in alliance with the English buccaneers.
The island was used to resupply firewood and water, repair their ships, and support their fishing activities.Puritan settlers ofBritish origin arrived on the island in the mid-18th century, bringing with them theirslaves ofAfrican origin. It is known that they came fromJamaica, settling inBritish Honduras (nowBelize) until they reached the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua.
The first settlers preferred to inhabit the southeastern part of the island. This was for several reasons: Quinn Hill's height offered a panoramic view of the sea, from which they could see the arrival of pirate ships as they approached "Insurance Harbor", a strategic port on the island that provided facilities for anchoring and unloading boats. This port, "Insurance Harbour", also has historical importance since Colonel Alexander McDonald, superintendent of British Honduras (today Belize), landed on August 27, 1841.
This superintendent was the one who ordered to call the enslaved laborers, at the point called South West Bay, to declare them free from slavery, in the name of Queen Victoria of Great Britain and KingRobert Charles Frederic ofMosquitia.
After the English colonists established themselves in the Corn Islands, a process of acculturation began. Most of the settlers came to these Islands as adventurers and explorers in search of fortunes and riches. They settled permanently and interacted with the enslaved laborers. A product of this relationship is theCreole descent of the Corn Islands. Over time, these descendants gradually assimilated and adapted the customs and traditions of English culture. Slavery was abolished on the Corn Islands in 1843.[3]
In 1852, Reverend Edward Kelly from British Honduras founded the Ebenezer Baptist Church and School, the first Christian institution built on the islands.[4][5] Ebenezer Baptist was the only church in the Corn Islands until 1901, when the Saint James Episcopal Church of Corn Island was founded.[6]
The Corn Islands were also part of theBritish protectorate of theKingdom of Mosquitia, from 1740 to 1860. At some point, the islands were frequented by Caribbean pirates. In 1894, theNicaraguan government occupied the areamilitarily. The islands were handed over to the United States for a 99-year lease under theBryan-Chamorro Treaty of August 5, 1914. Under the terms of that treaty, they were subject to U.S. law, but Nicaraguan sovereignty was maintained.
In 1940, Corn Island was elevated to a municipality in theZelaya Region (as the region was known at the time) by presidential decree.[7]
The United States maintained the right to the actual or potential use of the islands until April 25, 1971, the date on which the agreement was officially canceled with the repeal of theChamorro-Bryan treaty, under the presidency ofAnastasio Somoza Debayle, from July 14, 1970.
Before that event, the municipality had a governor rather than a mayor, as it does now. The mayors were previously elected in a community assembly, where, in addition to the highest municipal representative, the judge and secretary were also elected. The first popular vote elections in which all the people participated were at the beginning of the 20th century.
The Corn Islands consist ofGreat Corn Island (often simply referred to asCorn Island), with an area of 10 square kilometres (3.9 sq mi), andLittle Corn Island, with an area of 2.9 square kilometres (1.1 sq mi). The total area is 12.9 square kilometres (5.0 sq mi). Mount Pleasant Hill, in the north of Great Corn Island, is the highest elevation of the islands, at 113 metres (371 ft). Little Corn Island reaches a height of 38 metres (125 ft) at Lookout Point in the northern part of the island.
According to theKöppen climate classification, the nearby mainland region ofBluefields features atropical rainforest climate (KöppenAf). There is a drier period from February to April, but thetrade winds ensure that, unlike the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, rain still falls frequently during this period. For the rest of the year, when tropical low pressure dominates, rainfall is extremely heavy, helped by the coast being shaped in such a manner as to intercept winds from the south as prevail during the northern summer.
| Climate data for Corn Islands, Nicaragua | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 27.8 (82.0) | 28.4 (83.1) | 29.0 (84.2) | 29.8 (85.6) | 29.9 (85.8) | 28.9 (84.0) | 28.1 (82.6) | 28.5 (83.3) | 29.1 (84.4) | 28.8 (83.8) | 28.4 (83.1) | 28.0 (82.4) | 28.7 (83.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 24.9 (76.8) | 25.2 (77.4) | 26.2 (79.2) | 27.0 (80.6) | 27.0 (80.6) | 26.0 (78.8) | 25.6 (78.1) | 25.6 (78.1) | 25.8 (78.4) | 25.6 (78.1) | 25.3 (77.5) | 25.2 (77.4) | 25.8 (78.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22.2 (72.0) | 22.3 (72.1) | 23.3 (73.9) | 23.7 (74.7) | 24.2 (75.6) | 23.9 (75.0) | 23.7 (74.7) | 23.6 (74.5) | 23.5 (74.3) | 23.1 (73.6) | 22.8 (73.0) | 22.6 (72.7) | 23.2 (73.8) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 218 (8.6) | 114 (4.5) | 71 (2.8) | 101 (4.0) | 264 (10.4) | 581 (22.9) | 828 (32.6) | 638 (25.1) | 383 (15.1) | 418 (16.5) | 376 (14.8) | 328 (12.9) | 4,320 (170.2) |
| Average rainy days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 19 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 225 |
| Source: HKO[8] | |||||||||||||
The population of the islands numbered 7,747 as of 2020[update] (census of population, Late 2020).[9] Due to the Corn Islands belonging to theSouth Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region, the official languages there, are:Spanish (national language),Sumo,Rama,Miskito,Creole andGarifuna.[10]
The islanders are primarily Afro-descendant, English-speakingCreole people, some mixed with indigenous people.
The municipality of Corn Island is subdivided into sixneighborhoods (barrios), five of which are on Great Corn Island, while Little Corn Island constitutes the sixth Neighborhood:
| Neighborhood | Location | Sub-divisions |
|---|---|---|
| Brig Bay | west | Passion Street, Vicente, Pomar, South West Bay, Woula Point, Broad Bay. |
| Quinn Hill | south | Bluff Point, Hill Road |
| South End | east | Long Bay, Mount Pleasant, Rama |
| Sally Peachie | northeast | Sally Peachie, Little Hill, Sand Fly Bay |
| North End | northwest | North End, Back Road |
| Little Corn Island | island 13 km northeast | The Village, Carib Town |
 | |
| Location | Corn Islands, South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region, Nicaragua |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 12°17′26″N82°58′58″W / 12.290444°N 82.982889°W /12.290444; -82.982889 |
| Tower | |
| Construction | concrete (foundation), metal (tower) |
| Height | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Shape | square pyramidal skeletal tower with balcony and light |
| Markings | White |
| Power source | solar power |
| Operator | Aquatic Transport Directorate[11][12] |
| Light | |
| Focal height | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Range | 8 nmi (15 km; 9.2 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W |
Great Corn Island has a paved road about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) long, which runs the island's length. Automobiles, motorbikes, and bicycles are the primary means of transport on the island. Most cars are used as taxis and cost 20 Cordobas for each ride of an adult person. The only other public transportation option is the bus that circles the island clockwise and costs ten cordobas.
Little Corn Island is accessible by fast boats, usually three or four times per day depending on weather from Great Corn Island, and by a small cargo ship from the port at Southwest Bay on Great Corn Island (World Port Index No. 9775). Little Corn Island has no motor vehicles. Due to its small size, all transport on the island is done on foot.
Great Corn Island can be reached by aLa Costeña flight fromManagua orBluefields, which arrive twice a day atCorn Island Airport.
Great Corn Island can be reached by aferry or a small speedboat from the City ofBluefields that leaves from there every Wednesday and Saturday to the island.
Throughout most of the 20th century, the economy revolved around coconut production. During the 1960s and 1970s,commercial fishing as well aslobster andshrimp fishing became the primary industry. However, the recent growth in tourism throughout the region has also affected the islands. Tourism on the islands has grown considerably, with their many surroundingcoral reefs making them a popular destination forscuba diving andsnorkeling.
Barracudas,nurse sharks,hammerhead sharks,green sea turtles, andspotted eagle rays are among themarine life that can be seen around the islands.
Baseball is a popular sport in the Corn Islands. The main stadium on the island is the Karen Tucker Baseball Stadium.
Volleyball and Football are also Sports that many islanders play.[citation needed]
The cuisine of Corn Island is varied; most of the dishes are seafood- and boco-based.
Corn Island's typical dishes include crab soup, rondon, fried fish, and rice with shrimp.
Capital:Bluefields | ||
| Municipalities |  | |
12°10′N83°02′W / 12.167°N 83.033°W /12.167; -83.033
| Other | |
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| Corn Islands Lighthouse | |
