Solentiname Islands
| Solentiname Islands | |
|---|---|
| Municipality | |
 The Solentiname Islands (in violet) |
|
 Solentiname Islands
|
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| Coordinates: 11°12′N 85°2′W / 11.200°N 85.033°W | |
| Country |
 Nicaragua
|
| Department | Río San Juan |
| Area | |
| • Total | 70 sq mi (190 km2) |
| • Land | 15 sq mi (38 km2) |
| Elevation | 843 ft (257 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,000 |
| • Density | 14/sq mi (5.3/km2) |
The Solentiname Islands (Spanish pronunciation: [solentiˈname]) are an archipelago towards the southern end of Lake Nicaragua (also known as Lake Cocibolca) in the Nicaraguan department of Río San Juan.
They are made up of four larger islands, each a few kilometres across, named, from west to east, Mancarroncito, Mancarrón, San Fernando and La Venada, along with some 32 smaller islands with rocky headlands which afford shelter to numerous aquatic birds. The islands’ origins are volcanic. The highest point in the islands is found on Mancarrón; it is 257 m above sea level. The Solentiname Islands are a National Monument. They constitute one of the 78 protected areas of Nicaragua.
There is some confusion over what the archipelago's name means. Some hold that it is from a Nahuatl word that means "covey of quail", and others say that it comes from the Nahuatl word Celentinametl, which means "place of many guests". The latter opinion is found in the majority of sources.
The Solentiname Islands are tropical in every sense. They are covered in tropical tree species, transitional between wet and dry tropical, and are home to various colourful bird species, including various kinds of parrot and toucans; there are 76 species in all. The waters about the islands contain plentiful fish. There are about 46 species, including tarpon, freshwater sharks, sawfish, and swordfish. The island of La Venada is known for its deer, and also named for them (La Venada is Spanish for "The Doe").
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Wikipedia