Isla Aves (Bird Island) is a small, isolated scrap of land in the eastern Caribbean, about 110 km (70 mi) west of Dominica and 550 km (340 mi) north of Venezuela. Having no supply of fresh water other than rainfall, the island has never been inhabited. In the late 1800s it was occupied for a time by a U.S. company under the U.S. Guano Islands Act. Venezuela asserted its claim to the island in 1895 but took no action on the claim until 1950, when a Venezuelan naval force took physical possession of the island. In 1978, a permanent scientific station was established, staffed by scientists and protected by naval personnel.

Dominica, the closest nation of the Lesser Antilles, also claims the island, and that claim has been supported by the Caribbean Community.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume J of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 110.

Lighthouse

Isla Aves (2)

2002 (station established 1981). Active; focal plane 19 m (62 ft); white flash every 5 s. Light mounted atop a 3-story scientific station building, which stands on a platform supported by concrete piles. The current structure was built by a 2002 expedition and is occupied by rotating naval crews and visiting scientists. A photo is at right, and the Radio Club Venezolano has posted photos (starting halfway down the page) from a 2004 DXpedition to this rarest of amateur radio jurisdictions. Additional photos are available, but the island is only a blur in Google's satellite view. Accessible only by boat; Venezuelan Navy permits are required to land on the island or visit the station. Site and tower closed. ARLHS AVE-001; Admiralty J5700; NGA 16851.

Base Científico Naval Simón Bolívar, Isla Aves
Venezuela Direccíon de Hidrografía y Navegación photo