Corn Islands

Corn Islands Las Islas del Maíz
Municipality
Map of the Corn Islands
Corn Islands Location in Nicaragua
Coordinates: 12°10′N 83°02′W / 12.167°N 83.033°W / 12.167; -83.033
Country	Nicaragua
Department	South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region
Area
• Total	5.0 sq mi (12.9 km2)
Elevation	371 ft (113 m)
Population (2005)
• Total	7,429

Isla Pequeña del Maiz Lighthouse

Nicaragua
Location	Corn Island
Coordinates	12°17′25.6″N 82°58′58.4″W / 12.290444°N 82.982889°W / 12.290444; -82.982889
Foundation	concrete basement
Construction	metal skeletal tower
Tower shape	square pyramidal tower with balcony and light
Markings / pattern	white tower
Height	~ 15 metres (49 ft)
Light source	solar power
Range	8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi)
Characteristic	Fl W
Admiralty number	J6065
NGA number	16502
ARLHS number	NIC-002
Managing agent	Aquatic Transport Directorate

The Corn Islands (Spanish: Las Islas del Maíz) are two islands about 70 kilometres (43 mi) east of the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua, constituting one of 12 municipalities of the South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region. The official name of the municipality is Corn Island (the English name is officially used in Spanish-speaking Nicaragua).

The Corn Islands, along with the eastern half of present-day Nicaragua, were a British protectorate from 1655 until 1860, a period when the region was called the Mosquito Coast. At one time, the islands were frequented by Caribbean pirates. The Nicaraguan government annexed the region in 1894.

Under the Bryan–Chamorro Treaty of 1914, the islands were leased to the United States for a period of 99 years. The terms of the lease made the Corn Islands subject to the sovereignty of the United States. The lease notwithstanding, the United States never maintained a significant presence in the islands. The right of the United States to use of the islands remained until April 25, 1971, when the lease was officially terminated by the denunciation of the Bryan-Chamorro Treaty on July 14, 1970, under the presidency of Anastasio Somoza Debayle.

The Corn Islands consist of the Big Corn Island (Isla Grande del Maíz; often simply referred to as Corn Island; Isla del Maíz), with an area of 10 square kilometres (3.9 sq mi), and Little Corn Island (Isla Pequeña del Maíz), 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 Big 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.