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The island was formerly known as Ruatan and Rattan. It is approximately 77 kilometres (48 mi) long, and less than 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) across at its widest point. The island consists of two municipalities: José Santos Guardiola in the east and Roatán, including the Cayos Cochinos, further south in the west.
The island rests on an exposed ancient coral reef, rising to about 270 metres (890 ft) above sea level. Offshore reefs offer opportunities for diving. Most habitation is in the western half of the island.
The most populous town of the island is Coxen Hole, capital of Roatán municipality, located in the southwest. West of Coxen Hole are the settlements of Gravel Bay, Flowers Bay and Pensacola on the south coast, and Sandy Bay, West End and West Bay on the north coast. To the east of Coxen Hole are the settlements of Mount Pleasant, French Harbour, Parrot Tree, Jonesville and Oakridge on the south coast, and Punta Gorda on the north coast.
The easternmost quarter of the island is separated by a channel through the mangroves that is 15 metres wide on average. This section is called Helene, or Santa Elena in Spanish. Satellite islands at the eastern end are Morat, Barbareta, and Pigeon Cay. Further west between French Harbour and Coxen Hole are several cays, including Stamp Cay and Barefoot Cay.
Located near the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the largest barrier reef in the Caribbean Sea (second largest worldwide after Australia's Great Barrier Reef), Roatán has become an important cruise ship, scuba diving and eco-tourism destination in Honduras. Tourism is its most important economic sector, though fishing is also an important source of income for islanders. Roatán is located within 40 miles of La Ceiba. The island is served by the Juan Manuel Gálvez Roatán International Airport and the Galaxy Wave Ferry service twice a day.
The Indians of the Bay Islands are believed to have been related to either the Paya, the Maya, the Lenca or the Jicaque, which were the tribes present on the mainland. Christopher Columbus on his fourth voyage (1502–1504) came to the islands as he visited the neighbouring Bay Island of Guanaja. Soon after, the Spanish began trading in the islands for slave labour. More devastating for the local Indians was exposure to Eurasian infectious diseases to which they had no immunity, such as smallpox and measles. No indigenous people survived the consequent epidemics
Throughout European colonial times, the Bay of Honduras attracted an array of individual settlers, pirates, traders and military forces. Various economic activities were engaged in and political struggles played out between the European powers, chiefly Britain and Spain. Sea travellers frequently stopped over at Roatán and the other islands as resting points. On several occasions, the islands were subject to military occupation. In contesting with the Spanish for colonisation of the Caribbean, the English occupied the Bay Islands on and off between 1550 and 1700. During this time, buccaneers found the vacated, mostly unprotected islands a haven for safe harbour and transport. English, French and Dutch pirates established settlements on the islands. They frequently raided the Spanish treasure ships, cargo vessels carrying gold and silver from the New World to Spain.
During the War of the Austrian Succession (King George's War in the US), a detachment of the British Army under Lt. Col John Caulfeild garrisoned the island from 1742 to 1749. The garrison was originally found from two companies of Gooch's Virginia Regiment, but these were eventually amalgamated into Trelawney's 49th Foot (later the 1st Royal Berkshire Regiment).
In 1797, the British defeated the Black Carib, who had been supported by the French, in a battle for control of the Windward Caribbean island of St. Vincent. Weary of their resistance to British plans for sugar plantations, the British rounded up the St. Vincent Black Carib and deported them to Roatán. The majority of Black Carib migrated to Trujillo on mainland Honduras, but a portion remained to found the community of Punta Gorda on the northern coast of Roatán. The Black Carib, whose ancestry includes Arawak and African Maroons, remained in Punta Gorda, becoming the Bay Island's first permanent post-Columbian settlers. They also migrated from there to parts of the northern coast of Central America, becoming the foundation of the modern-day Garífuna culture in Honduras, Belize and Guatemala.
The majority permanent population of Roatán originated from the Cayman Islands near Jamaica. They arrived in the 1830s shortly after Britain's abolition of slavery in 1838. The changes in the labour system disrupted the economic structure of the Caymans. The islands had a largely seafaring culture; natives were familiar with the area from turtle fishing and other activities. Former slaveholders from the Cayman Islands were among the first to settle in the seaside locations throughout primarily western Roatán. During the late 1830s and 1840s, former slaves also migrated from the Cayman Islands, in larger number than planters. All together, the former Cayman peoples became the largest cultural group on the island.
For a brief period in the 1850s, Britain declared the Bay Islands its colony. Within a decade, the Crown ceded the territory formally back to Honduras. British colonists were sent to compete for control. They asked American William Walker, a freebooter (filibuster) with a private army, to help end the crisis in 1860 by invading Honduras; he was captured upon landing in Trujillo and executed there.
In the latter half of the 19th century, the island populations grew steadily and established new settlements all over Roatán and the other islands. Settlers came from all over the world and played a part in shaping the cultural face of the island. Islanders started a fruit trade industry which became profitable. By the 1870s it was purchased by American interests, most notably the New Orleans and Bay Islands Fruit Company. Later the Standard Fruit and United Fruit companies became the foundation for modern-day fruit companies, the industry which led to Honduras being called a "banana republic".
In the 20th century, there was continued population growth resulting in increased economic changes and environmental challenges. A population boom began with an influx of Spanish-speaking Mestizo migrants from the Honduran mainland. Since the late 20th century, they tripled the previous resident population. Mestizo migrants settled primarily in the urban areas of Coxen Hole and Barrio Los Fuertes (near French Harbour). Even the mainlander influx was dwarfed in number and economic effects by the overwhelming tourist presence in the 21st century. Numerous American, Canadian, British, New Zealander, Australian and South African settlers and entrepreneurs engaged chiefly in the fishing industry, and later, provided the foundation for attracting the tourist trade.
In 1998, Roatán suffered some damage from Hurricane Mitch, temporarily paralysing most commercial activity. The storm also broke up the popular dive-wrecks Aguila and Odyssey.
Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
A test canvas for a photography art show I am mounting for 2020.
Canvas Wrap, 20"x20", Square.
Shameless plug... but generating this image was hell, technically. The whole process has been hell frankly.
If she would have entered to the Ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods dressed more or less like this, people would shout at her, spit on her, tweak her,…
But at the Teddy Kollek park, the rules are different, and thus she can enjoy the fountain next to an Ultra-Orthodox man in a long white shirt and black trousers, and to an Arab boy that runs and jumps happily.
Who knows, maybe they can even enjoy such a beautiful fresh stalk…
.. than my previous post.
Taken at my parents (vacant Estate) home in 2009.
Gotta love the Leggs, , ,
Tympanuchus pallidicinctus
An endangered species of bird that will likely go extinct during my lifetime due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Formerly found throughout the southern great plains of the United States, is now only found in small isolated pockets in the area where New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma come together.
This is a male trying his best to impress one of the females watching the display.
Trying for a wee bit more natural look.Just a little foundation and lippy, might even feel confident stepping out like this ❤️
Before anyone got more or less addicted to their phone, this was a classic way of entertainment for kids. He's got pictured slides and is telling the story to them before moving to the next slide. In a way motion picture just analog. This gentleman is keeping this tradition alive and kids are enjoying it. A scene you can see almost every weekend in Neko dori.
Yanesen, Tokyo
For the 2013 Summer Season, Cardiff Bus held the contract for Beacons Bus Service B1 (Cardiff-Pontypridd-Merthyr Tydfil-Brecon) and the associated Brecon to Abergavenny link.
Wright Solar-bodied Scania K230UBs were the usual allocation, and 766, towing a less well laden bike trailer, is captured heading north on the A470 just past Storey Arms in May of that year.
This has been a hard winter at Rondeau.
The snow keeps coming and the temperatures stay well below freezing.
Being a natural area they don't like to use salt to clear the roads due to the damage it causes.
Of course being this cold salt wouldn't work any way. Below -13c it doesn't work.
Nature brought it and nature will take it away.
In the mean time just drive carefully and watch out for turkeys flying down from the trees.
They can ruin your day if they come through your windshield.
Nawh, I had a lovely few moments with this tiny person. We had the room warm as toast, soft music playing, hot water bottles and all other manner of things that we thought may help our cause. Kylie did a fantastic job of shooing the other two bigger cubs out of the room just long enough to snap this picture and few more. It was quite the comedy of errors really but I would expect nothing less. Kylie+Cindy=insanity plus! A fav moment was when Kylie and I were together in the room and then we both saw Arminka race past the bedroom window. Kylie's face was classic and she hightailed it out of the room to round up the escapee. Meanwhile, little Oliver and I had a rather fun game of folding/unfolding legs. I would schooch them up in a cute little ball and then he would stretch out to his full half metre length, with, I am sure, a little smirk on his precious face. Cheeky!
05/09/2007 - Added to Themed Weekly Contests #210: Windows
20/04/2007 - Added to Themed Weekly Contests 3 Contests - 133rd contest: Faith
Augustinian Priory in Adare, founded in 1315, restored in 1807.
To protect the old stained glass panes, from weathering and other less benign possibilities, a layer of plexiglas has been installed over the original panes.
Occasionally, when the light hits at the right angle, a reflected image can be seen in the plexiglas which is as striking as the old designs and reminiscent of their form
On its second day in service, Nottingham City Transport Scania N280UD / Enviro 400 City 426 - YP17 UFJ is captured in West Bridgford working route 6 to City. These super environmentally friendly bio-gas buses will reduce Co2 emissions by up to 84% compared to an equivalent brand new diesel double deck bus.