Gaspar Grande

Gaspar Grande

Nickname: Gasparee
Gaspar Grande island pictured in the background, with Gasparillo Island in the right foreground
Gaspar Grande Location of Gaspar Grande off the north-western peninsular of Trinidad
Geography
Total islands	1
Area	1.29 km2 (0.50 sq mi)
Highest elevation	121 m (397 ft)
Administration
Trinidad and Tobago

Gaspar Grande or Gasparee is an island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago named for Gaspar de Percín. The island is 1.29 km² (0.50 square miles) in area and lies 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Port of Spain. It is one of the "Bocas Islands", which lie in the Bocas del Dragón (Dragon's Mouth) between Trinidad and Venezuela.

Gaspar Grande is primarily limestone, and reaches a height of 121 metres (397 ft) at its highest point. Gaspar Grande is home to the Gasparee Caves, a natural limestone cave system with a mysterious pool at its base. Other caves on the island include the White Cave, the Brioge Cavern and the Precipice Cavern. Vegetation on the island includes the Yellow Poui, Giant Cactus, Hog Plum, Silk Cotton, Agave, Manicou Fig, Naked Indian, Pelican Flower, Queen-of-the-Forest (Filipendula occidentalis), Cow Itch, Sugar Apple and Salt-fish Wood.

Legend has it that another cave on the island, William Dampiers Tunnel, has a pirate's treasure chest which is easily accessible on certain days of the year.

History

In 1783, Gaspar Grande was granted to Gaspar de Percin Roque by governor José María Chacón. Events in its history include the Saga of Admiral Apodaca and the establishment of whaling stations on the island.

Places

Point Baleine was once a whaling station, as indicated by its name, which is French for "whaling point". Located on the Southwestern end of Gaspar Grande, Point Baliene is one of the main drop off sites for visitors to the Gasparee Caves.

Bombshell Bay got its name from its historical past as there once was a fort located in this area. It is now a holiday resort.

Gasparee Caves is one of the more popular sites in Chaguaramas. The cave is full of geological formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, pillars, ribbon, and fringed curtain.

Other landmarks on the island include Bordel Bay, Winn's Bay, Goodwill's Bay and St. Madeline Bay.

Fauna

Terrestrial vertebrate fauna of the island is a depauperate subset of that found on the main island of Trinidad. Given their ability to easily move over the narrow sea straights between both Trinidad and Venezuela, the most specious class of terrestrial vertebrates on the island are the birds. Among the birds commonly encountered on the island are American Black Vultures, Turkey Vultures, Brown Pelicans, Great Kiskadees, Ruddy Ground Doves, White-tipped Doves, Yellow-headed Caracaras, Orange-winged Amazon Parrots and Bananaquits. Non-avian reptiles are the next well represented vertebrates, with snakes such as Boddaert's tropical racers and lizards including Green Iguanas, Turnip-tailed Geckos, Wiegmann's striped geckos, Underwood's Spectacled Tegus and the introduced Grenada bush anoles being fairly commonly encountered. The Trinidad Northern Coral Snake - Micrurus circinalis - is the only potentially dangerous venomous snake known from Gaspar Grande. There are a few mammals known from the island, inclusive of the Southern opossum and several species of bats that make use of the limestone cave and sinkhole systems, tree cavities and even human built structures present.

See also

• Islands of Trinidad and Tobago

References

• Anthony, Michael (2001). Historical Dictionary of Trinidad and Tobago. Scarecrow Press, Inc. Lanham, Md., and London. ISBN 0-8108-3173-2.