Nickname: Gasparee | |
|---|---|
 Gaspar Grande island pictured in the background, withGasparillo 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 orGasparee is an island in the Republic ofTrinidad and Tobago named for Gaspar de Percín. The island is 1.29 km2 (0.50square miles) in area and lies 12 km (7.5 mi) west ofPort of Spain. It is one of the "Bocas Islands", which lie in theBocas del Dragón (Dragon's Mouth) betweenTrinidad andVenezuela.
Gaspar Grande is primarilylimestone, and reaches a height of 121 metres (397 ft) at its highest point. Gaspar Grande is home to the Gasparee Caves, a natural limestone cave system with a pool at its base (this pool being fed by the sea and influenced by the rise and fall of the tides). Other caves on the island include the White Cave, theBrioge Cavern and thePrecipice Cavern. Vegetation on the island includes theYellow Poui,Giant Cactus,Hog Plum,Silk Cotton,Agave,Manicou Fig,Naked Indian,Pelican Flower, Queen-of-the-Forest (Filipendula occidentalis),Cow Itch,Sugar Apple andSalt-fish Wood.[citation needed]
Legend has it that there might be a pirate's treasure chest stashed somewhere in another often semi-submerged cave on the island (referred to asWilliam Dampier's Tunnel) and that this cave is supposedly only easily accessible on certain days of the year at low tide. This legend remains largely unsupported by evidence.
In 1783, Gaspar Grande was granted toGaspar de Percin Roque by governorJosé María Chacón. Events in its history include theSaga of Admiral Apodaca and the establishment ofwhaling stations on the island.
Pointe Baleine was once awhaling station, as indicated by its name, which is French for "whaling point". Located on the western end of Gaspar Grande, Pointe Baleine 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.
Gasparee Caves is one of the more popular sites inChaguaramas. The cave is full of geological formations such asstalactites,stalagmites,flowstones, pillars, ribbon, andfringed curtain.
Other landmarks on the island includeBordel Bay,Winn's Bay,Goodwill's Bay andSt. Madeline Bay.
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 areAmerican Black Vultures,Turkey Vultures,Brown Pelicans,Great Kiskadees,Ruddy Ground Doves,White-tipped Doves,Yellow-headed Caracaras,Orange-winged Amazon Parrots andBananaquits. Non-avian reptiles are the next well represented vertebrates, with snakes such asBoddaert's tropical racers and lizards includingGreen Iguanas,Turnip-tailed Geckos,Wiegmann's striped geckos,Underwood's Spectacled Tegus and the introducedGrenada bush anoles being fairly commonly encountered. TheTrinidad Northern Coral Snake -Micrurus circinalis - is the only potentially dangerous venomous snake known from Gaspar Grande. There are a few mammals known from the island, inclusive of theSouthern opossum and several species of bats that make use of the limestone cave and sinkhole systems, tree cavities and even human built structures present.[citation needed]
Among the myriad of invertebrates present, theAmazonian Giant Centipede (known to grow up to 30 centimetres in length) is perhaps the most notable.
10°40′N61°39′W / 10.667°N 61.650°W /10.667; -61.650
| Major Islands |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Bocas Islands | ||
| The Five Islands | ||
| San Diego Islands | ||
| Selected Islands off Tobago | ||
| Other Islands | ||
