Klein Curaçao

Location of Klein Curaçao

Klein Curaçao (English: Little Curaçao) is an 1.7 km² uninhabited island south-east of Curaçao in the Caribbean Sea, and is part of the country Curaçao. In 1888, a short-lived German naval base was established on the island as part of Imperial expansion into the German Caribbean, although inclement weather eventually ruined the scheme. The only structures on the island are an old lighthouse, beach house, and several huts. Klein Curaçao is well known as a beautiful diving-spot because of its coral and underwater caves.

The lighthouse at Klein Curaçao

Klein Curaçao has no permanent inhabitants, only a few palm-frond covered sheds for day trippers from Curaçao, and apart from some coconut palms has little vegetation. But there are some fisherman's huts where the fishermen normally stay for some days. They will get water from the Coast Guard of Curaçao. The windward side is a graveyard for boats that did not stay out far enough or lost power. A small tanker, the Maria Bianca Guidesman, is gradually being diminished to rust and dust by the constant pounding of the waves. The remains of another four or five boats are washed far onshore.