Swan Islands, Honduras

Swan Islands

Little Swan Island
Geography
Location	Caribbean Sea
Coordinates	17°24′38″N 83°55′19″W
Archipelago	Bay Islands
Country
Honduras
Department	Bay Islands
Municipality	Islas de la Bahia
Largest city	(pop. 0)
Demographics
Population	0

The Swan Islands, or Islas Santanilla, are a chain of three islands located in the northwestern Caribbean Sea, approximately ninety miles off the coastline of Honduras, with a land area of 8 km² (3.1 sq mi).

Detailed location and features

They are within the EEZ of Honduras and belong to the Islas de la Bahía department of Honduras. They consist of three islands:

• Great Swan Island (3 km long, 5.5 km²)
• Little Swan (2.4 km long, 0.5 km wide, 2.5 km²)
• Booby Cay (90 metres long, 70 m off the southwest corner of Great Swan, <0.01 km²)

Rosario Bank and Misteriosa Bank are 130 to 150 km north of the Swan Islands and separated from them by the >5000 metres deep Cayman Trench.

The islands are uninhabited, except for a small Honduran navy garrison. Great Swan has a 3800′ (1158 m) grass airstrip (ICAO code MHIC, IATA code SWA).

Historical background

Area map

Nautical map of the Swan Islands

NASA satellite image

Both the United States and Honduras claimed the Swan Islands until the United States dropped its claim under the Guano Islands Act in 1972. The islands gained attention in the early 1960s due to the activities of Radio Swan, that began broadcasting in May 1960 during preparation for, and during, the abortive Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba. The station was removed from the islands in the late 1960s and its main transmitter was transferred for use in the Vietnam War.

In October 1998, Hurricane Mitch moved over Swan Island with winds of 180 mph.

See also

• United States Miscellaneous Caribbean Islands
• List of Guano Island claims
• Honduras – United Kingdom Maritime Delimitation Treaty

External links

• History of the Swan Islands