The Los Roques Archipelago (Spanish version - Archipielago Los Roques) is an island group of the Leeward (South Antilles) Islands of the Lesser Antilles archipelago, located in the Caribbean Sea approximately 166 kilometers north of the South American coast of Venezuela. The name of the archipelago is literally translated from Spanish as “Coral Reefs”.

The Los Roques archipelago includes more than 150 islands, reefs and banks, the largest of which are Gran Roque, Cayo Francisco, Cayo Crasque, Cayo de Agua and others. By their origin, the islands in the archipelago are coral atolls, which is an exception in the Caribbean Sea. Most of the atolls in the archipelago have internal shallow lagoons with sandy bottoms and are surrounded by barrier coral reefs. In addition to the atolls, the Los Roques archipelago contains quite a few banks and shoals that are in the process of forming future atolls. The relief of the islands is predominantly low-lying with coastal sand dunes not exceeding a height of 7-8 meters above sea level, but above the island of Gran Roque rises a sheer cliff of volcanic origin with a height of 124 meters, which is the highest point of the archipelago. The total area of ​​the islands and surface reefs in the Los Roques archipelago is just over 40 square kilometers.

Surprisingly, the first people appeared on the Los Roques Islands approximately 2000-3000 years ago. At the beginning of the second millennium BC, representatives of tribes from the coast of modern Venezuela arrived on the islands of the archipelago, who brought the first cultures here. Around 1300 AD, tribes from the coast of Valencia began to appear on the islands, bringing pottery and other ceramics. At present, it is not known for certain which European was the first to discover the islands as part of the Los Roques archipelago. Officially, only in 1589, the governor of the Venezuelan province gave an order to take possession of these islands on behalf of the colony. But even after this, the colonization of the islands progressed sluggishly; pirates and pearl divers mainly hunted here. After the independence of the former Spanish colonies in South America, the Los Roques Islands changed hands until they finally became a territorial possession of Venezuela. On July 20, 1938, the islands of the archipelago were united by the Venezuelan authorities into the Federal Dominions of Venezuela, and in 1972 the Los Rocas Archipelago was declared a national park. This administrative status has been retained by the archipelago to this day.

Currently, the majority of the Los Roques islands are either uninhabited or sparsely inhabited. Their population is concentrated mainly on the island of Gran Roque and adjacent atolls; its number, according to the latest census, does not exceed one and a half thousand people. The islanders live mainly in small towns and villages and are mainly employed in the service sector for tourists arriving here. According to the ethno-racial composition, the entire population of the islands considers themselves Venezuelans with Spanish roots. The official language on the islands is Spanish, but recently, with the development of tourism, English is increasingly spoken here.

The currency that is in circulation on the inhabited islands of the Los Roques archipelago is the Venezuelan bolivar (VEF, code 937), consisting of 100 centimos.

Tourists arrive to the resort areas of the islands of the Los Roques archipelago mainly by sea. This can be done both on small passenger ships with shallow draft and on your own yachts. You can also get here by air, but Los Roques Airport, located on the island of Gran Roque, accepts only light and medium-sized aircraft, as well as helicopters. Los Roques airport can be reached from Caracas, or by charter from Porlamar.

Distinctive feature Los Roques Islands in terms of tourism is that there are no luxury hotels or high-rise hotels. Tourists are accommodated for the most part in coastal bungalows and private villas, which are the property of wealthy Venezuelans and foreign citizens. The level of service when staying in a bungalow is quite high, which attracts a large number of vacationers from the countries of South and North America.

The climate on the islands of the Los Roques archipelago is hot and relatively dry, it is largely shaped by the trade winds that blow from the northeast. It is the trade winds that smooth out the feeling of heat on the islands and bring freshness here. On average, relative humidity is 83%. The minimum amount of precipitation occurs in April (no more than 7-8 millimeters), and the maximum in November (52-54 millimeters). The air temperature does not have any serious fluctuations throughout the year, and its average value is approximately 26-28 °C. The average water temperature ranges from 25 to 30 °C.

The islands of the Los Roques archipelago are rich in sandy beaches washed by the clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. The purity of coastal waters is explained by the sufficient distance of the archipelago from the continent and the depth of the dividing strait, which in some places exceeds 1500 meters. In the mid-90s, the beach infrastructure on the Los Roques islands began to develop after wealthy Venezuelans and Brazilians began to build their villas here and invest money in tourism development. Now the beaches on the islands of Gran Roque, Cayo Francisco and Cayo Crasque are leading in positive reviews from tourists, among the islands of the entire South Antilles group, including Bonaire (Bonaire) and.

In addition to beach holidays, numerous tourists visiting the Los Roques Islands have a fairly wide choice of other entertainment, among which it is worth highlighting kayaking, canoeing, kayaking and catamarans, kitesurfing, windsurfing, diving, snorkeling, fishing, bird watching, as well as trekking and walking through mangrove forests. On the island of Gran Roque there is a marine center for the study of turtles and other rare marine animals.

In addition, every year in the second week of September there is a local festival called Virgen del Valle, in November there is a Lobster Festival, and in December there is an annual sailing regatta among several leading classes of sailing ships.

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One of the main treasures of the archipelago is its snow-white beaches. Bordered by the turquoise sea and clear blue sky, they seem to be specially created for a relaxing holiday. There are no beaches on the main island of Gran Roque; they are all located on neighboring islands. The most visited beaches are Madriska.

Hotels and infrastructure

There are no hotels, nightclubs, restaurants or cafes on the islands! You can stay in a special recreational area in the northeast of the archipelago. In Gran Roque there are family hotels with several rooms. The accommodation is quite modest, so you shouldn’t count on luxury rooms. People come here not for amenities, but to enjoy unity with nature.

7 things to do in the Los Roques archipelago

1. Visit an underwater rock in the northeast of the island of Gran Roque. This is one of the most mysterious places in the entire archipelago. From the bottom of the sea the rock rises 45 meters. Visibility here is simply fantastic - you can see everything at a distance of 30 meters. The rock is perfect for diving.
2. Visit the lagoon system in the southeast of the Los Roques archipelago, surrounded by mangroves and beaches with surprisingly fine sand. The depth of the lagoons is 1-2 meters. The conditions for snorkeling are simply amazing.
3. Climb to the very top of the ancient Dutch lighthouse located on the island of Gran Roque and admire the stunning views of the surrounding area. Best time to visit the lighthouse - 17.30-18.30, when the sun sets and there is an opportunity to enjoy the divine sunset.
4. Dive deeper and examine the sunken ships with your own eyes. There is definitely no gold in them, but there is plenty of famous Caribbean lobster.
5. Catch a wave with a surf and a kite. This water activity is called kiting. There is not too much wind blowing on the archipelago, so there is no need to worry about the kitesurfer being blown far into the ocean.
6. Order sea fishing. You can choose from such methods of catching fish as flying or trolling. Most often, albula is caught using a fishing rod. But if you are lucky and luck smiles widely with all its 32 teeth, then you can get tarpon, mackerel or barracuda.
7. Snatching a sea shell with you, throwing in a handful of fine white sand, a pebble or another particle that would symbolize this wonderful land - there will be no problems at customs. Venezuelans, unlike the Egyptians, are more generous with their “national treasure.”

Views of Los Roques

Flora and fauna

Thanks to its status as a national park, the Los Roques Islands have preserved their coral reefs in their original form. But the world of flora and fauna has suffered significantly due to the worsening state of the environment. The world of terrestrial animals is especially poorly represented. Before today Only lizards, iguanas and some insects survived.

But the aquatic fauna is presented in all its diversity: more than 200 species of fish, about 200 species of crustaceans, 45 species of starfish and urchins, 140 species of mollusks. Dolphins, turtles, whales and stingrays are also found in coastal waters.

Gran Roque

The only inhabited island in the archipelago is Gran Roque. There is a small fishing town here, home to about a thousand people. The main livelihood of the local population is fishing and tourism. By the way, it was due to the fault of local fishermen, who sold all their catch to the continent for a good reward, that there were practically no lobsters and royal clams left on the islands.

Los Roques is an archipelago that is part of the Southern Antilles, located in the Caribbean Sea, 166 km north of the coast of Venezuela. This is one of the few places on the planet that has preserved its pristine beauty and exceptional brightness of colors. In 1972, a National Park. Many islands are completely closed to visitors, and tourists are provided with a recreational area, which includes the islands of Gran Roque, Madriski, Francisco, Cayo Pirata, Craski, Nordiski and many small islets. Nature has given Los Roques an amazing variety of landscapes: impenetrable mangroves here coexist with lagoons, picturesque rocky shores give way to serene bays, and salt deposits turn into white sandy beaches.

Gran Roque is the main city of the island of the same name in the Los Roques archipelago. The small fishing town is home to about 1,200 people who fish for lobsters, tropical fish and search for seashells. This is the only inhabited island of the archipelago. Here you can rent a boat and travel to other islands of the archipelago. The town of Gran Roque features an abundance of brightly painted houses and a lighthouse dating from 1870, which offers stunning views of the surrounding area.

In the 16th century, the archipelago was discovered and described by the Spaniards. But they did not show much interest in it and did not establish any settlements here. Fishermen and pearl divers moved here from neighboring islands. The Spaniards did not see the point in maintaining strong ties with the archipelago and in controlling it, so pirates began to settle here. However, they did not stay here for long - the islands still remained sparsely inhabited. In the 19th century, inhabitants of the Netherlands Antilles sailed here for corals and mangrove wood. And in the 20th century. The islands were gradually settled by fishermen from Margarita Island. Since the 50s, their products began to be in great demand on the continent, which pulled the islands into the general economic market of the country. By presidential decree on August 8, 1972, the Los Roques Archipelago was declared a National Park. By the mid-20th century, the richness of the archipelago's waters had greatly diminished due to the growth of the fishing industry. Lobsters and king clams were particularly hard hit by fishermen. Therefore, the government designated the archipelago as a protected natural area with limited access. Now, after the creation of the National Park, the archipelago receives the main profit from tourists.

The archipelago is a wonderful place for fishing. Thanks to the extraordinary, crystalline clarity of the coastal waters, as well as the coral reefs that protect the archipelago from ocean disturbances, Los Roques is also an ideal place for diving and snorkeling. The condition of the coral formations in this area is recognized as the best in the entire Caribbean Sea, and the diversity of life in the local bizarre underwater forests attracts travelers from all over the world.

The flight from Caracas to Gran Roque is 40 minutes, and the local airport accepts all flights from the mainland. The nearby islands can also be reached by water (excursion boats operate).

Climate
the archipelago is always sunny and warm; the hottest months of the year are August and September; at night the air temperature at any time of the year can drop to +18°C; The islands are characterized by strong winds.

The sun is the source of life on the planet. Its rays provide the necessary light and warmth. At the same time, ultraviolet radiation from the Sun is destructive to all living things. To find a compromise between the beneficial and harmful properties of the Sun, meteorologists calculate the ultraviolet radiation index, which characterizes the degree of its danger.

What kind of UV radiation from the sun is there?

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun has wide range and is divided into three regions, two of which reach the Earth.

• UVA Long-wave radiation range

  315–400 nm

  The rays pass almost freely through all atmospheric “barriers” and reach the Earth.

• UV-B. Medium wave range radiation

  280–315 nm

  The rays are 90% absorbed by the ozone layer, carbon dioxide and water vapor.

• UV-C. Shortwave range radiation

  100–280 nm

  The most dangerous area. They are completely absorbed by stratospheric ozone without reaching the Earth.

The more ozone, clouds and aerosols in the atmosphere, the less the harmful effects of the Sun. However, these life-saving factors have a high natural variability. The annual maximum of stratospheric ozone occurs in spring, and the minimum in autumn. Cloudiness is one of the most variable characteristics of weather. The carbon dioxide content also changes all the time.

At what UV index values ​​is there a danger?

The UV index provides an estimate of the amount of UV radiation from the Sun at the Earth's surface. UV index values ​​range from a safe 0 to an extreme 11+.

• 0–2 Low
• 3–5 Moderate
• 6–7 High
• 8–10 Very high
• 11+ Extreme

In mid-latitudes, the UV index approaches unsafe values ​​(6–7) only at the maximum height of the Sun above the horizon (occurs in late June - early July). At the equator, the UV index reaches 9...11+ points throughout the year.

What are the benefits of the sun?

In small doses, UV radiation from the Sun is simply necessary. The sun's rays synthesize melanin, serotonin, and vitamin D, which are necessary for our health, and prevent rickets.

Melanin creates a kind of protective barrier for skin cells from the harmful effects of the Sun. Because of it, our skin darkens and becomes more elastic.

The hormone of happiness serotonin affects our well-being: it improves mood and increases overall vitality.

Vitamin D strengthens the immune system, stabilizes blood pressure and performs anti-rickets functions.

Why is the sun dangerous?

When sunbathing, it is important to understand that the line between the beneficial and harmful Sun is very thin. Excessive tanning always borders on a burn. Ultraviolet radiation damages DNA in skin cells.

The body's defense system cannot cope with such aggressive influence. It lowers immunity, damages the retina, causes skin aging and can lead to cancer.

Ultraviolet light destroys the DNA chain

How the Sun affects people

Sensitivity to UV radiation depends on skin type. People of the European race are the most sensitive to the Sun - for them, protection is required already at index 3, and 6 is considered dangerous.

At the same time, for Indonesians and African Americans this threshold is 6 and 8, respectively.

Who is most influenced by the Sun?

People with fair hair

skin tone

People with many moles

Residents of mid-latitudes during a holiday in the south

Winter lovers

fishing

Skiers and climbers

People with a family history of skin cancer

In what weather is the sun more dangerous?

It is a common misconception that the sun is dangerous only in hot and clear weather. You can also get sunburned in cool, cloudy weather.

Cloudiness, no matter how dense it may be, does not reduce the amount of ultraviolet radiation to zero. In mid-latitudes, cloudiness significantly reduces the risk of getting sunburned, which cannot be said about traditional beach holiday destinations. For example, in the tropics, if in sunny weather you can get sunburned in 30 minutes, then in cloudy weather - in a couple of hours.

How to protect yourself from the sun

To protect yourself from harmful rays, follow simple rules:

Spend less time in the sun during midday hours

Wear light-colored clothing, including wide-brimmed hats

Use protective creams

Wear sunglasses

Stay in the shade more on the beach

Which sunscreen to choose

Sunscreens vary in their degree of sun protection and are labeled from 2 to 50+. The numbers indicate the proportion of solar radiation that overcomes the protection of the cream and reaches the skin.

For example, when applying a cream labeled 15, only 1/15 (or 7 %) of the ultraviolet rays will penetrate the protective film. In the case of cream 50, only 1/50, or 2 %, affects the skin.

Sunscreen creates a reflective layer on the body. However, it is important to understand that no cream can reflect 100% of ultraviolet radiation.

For everyday use, when the time spent under the Sun does not exceed half an hour, a cream with protection 15 is quite suitable. For tanning on the beach, it is better to take 30 or higher. However, for fair-skinned people it is recommended to use a cream labeled 50+.

How to Apply Sunscreen

The cream should be applied evenly to all exposed skin, including the face, ears and neck. If you plan to sunbathe for a long time, then the cream should be applied twice: 30 minutes before going out and, additionally, before going to the beach.

Please check the cream instructions for the required volume for application.

How to Apply Sunscreen When Swimming

Sunscreen should be applied every time after swimming. Water washes away the protective film and, by reflecting the sun's rays, increases the dose of ultraviolet radiation received. Thus, when swimming, the risk of sunburn increases. However, due to the cooling effect, you may not feel the burn.

Excessive sweating and wiping with a towel are also reasons to re-protect the skin.

It should be remembered that on the beach, even under an umbrella, the shade does not provide complete protection. Sand, water and even grass reflect up to 20% of ultraviolet rays, increasing their impact on the skin.

How to protect your eyes

Sunlight reflected from water, snow or sand can cause painful burns to the retina. To protect your eyes, wear sunglasses with a UV filter.

Danger for skiers and climbers

In the mountains, the atmospheric “filter” is thinner. For every 100 meters of height, the UV index increases by 5 %.

Snow reflects up to 85 % of ultraviolet rays. In addition, up to 80 % of the ultraviolet reflected by the snow cover is reflected again by clouds.

Thus, in the mountains the Sun is most dangerous. It is necessary to protect your face, lower chin and ears even in cloudy weather.

How to deal with sunburn if you get sunburned

Use a damp sponge to moisten the burn.

Apply anti-burn cream to the burned areas

If your temperature rises, consult your doctor; you may be advised to take an antipyretic

If the burn is severe (the skin swells and blisters greatly), seek medical attention