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((Short description|Island in Venezuela))
((Other uses))
((Multiple issues|
((More citations needed|date=October 2009))
((Lead too short|date=December 2020))
))
((Infobox islands
| name             = Margarita
| map = Venezuela
| map_caption = 
| native_name      = ''Isla de Margarita''
| native_name_link = Spanish language
| nickname         = ''Pearl of the Caribbean''
| image            = ((Photomontage
| photo1a =
| photo2a = PlayaElAgua (Margarita-VEN).jpg
| photo2b = Vista de la Isla de Margarita - Venezuela.JPG
| photo3a = Turismo_en_Pampatar_4.jpg
| photo3b = Castillo_de_San_Carlos_de_Borromeo_(Pampatar,_Isla_de_Margarita).JPG
| photo4a = Panoramic_view_of_El_Morro,_Isla_Margarita.jpg
| photo5a = Wyndham Isla Margarita Concorde hotel.jpg
| photo5b = IGLESIA DE LA VIRGEN DEL VALLE EN MARGARITA ESTADO NUEVA ESPARTA VENEZUELA.JPG
| size = 300
| spacing = 1
| color = white
| border = 1
| color_border = white
 ))
| location         = [[Caribbean Sea]]
| coordinates      = ((Coord|10|59|13|N|63|56|08|W|region:VE-O_type:isle_scale:500000_source:geonames |display=inline,title))<ref name="geonames">[((geonameslink|gnid=3632949|name=isla-de-margarita)) Isla de Margarita] in [((geonamesabout)) Geonames.org (cc-by)]</ref>
| archipelago      = 
| total_islands    =  
| major_islands    =
| area_km2         = 1020
| length_km        = 78
| width_km         = 20
| highest_mount    = Cerro Grande (Cerro San Juan)
| elevation_m      = 920
| country          = Venezuela
| country_admin_divisions_title     = State
| country_admin_divisions           = [[Nueva Esparta]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1   =
| country_admin_divisions_1         =
| country_admin_divisions_title_2   =
| country_admin_divisions_2         =
| country_largest_city              = [[Porlamar]]
| country_largest_city_population   = 85,000
| population       = 489,917
| population_as_of = 2014
| density_km2      = 411.76
| ethnic_groups    =
| additional_info  =
))
'''Margarita Island''' (((lang|es|Isla de Margarita)), ((IPA-es|maɾɣaˈɾita))) is the largest island in the [[States of Venezuela|Venezuelan state]] of [[Nueva Esparta]], situated off the northeastern coast of the country, in the [[Caribbean Sea]]. The capital city of Nueva Esparta, [[La Asunción]], is located on the island.

==History==
[[File:Provincia Margarita.jpg|thumb|left|1840 map by [[Agustín Codazzi]]]]

=== Age of Exploration ===
[[Christopher Columbus]] was the first European to arrive on Margarita Island in [[1498]]. The local natives were the [[Guaiqueries]] people. The coast of the island was abundant in pearls, which represented almost a third of all New World tribute to the Spanish Crown. Margarita Island was fortified against the increasing threat of pirate attacks, and some fortifications remain today. It was the center of Spanish colonial [[Margarita Province]], established in [[1525]].

In [[1561]], the island was seized by [[Lope de Aguirre]], a notoriously violent and rebellious [[conquistador]] who killed the governor Juan Villadrando. Around [[1675]], the island was captured again, this time by [[Red Legs Greaves]], a pirate known for his humanity and morality. He captured a fleet of Spanish ships off port, before turning the guns on the forts which he stormed and claimed a large booty of [[pearl]]s and [[gold]].<ref name="Gosse - Who’s Who">((cite book|last1=Gosse|first1=Philip|title=The Pirates' Who's Who by Philip Gosse|date=1924|publisher=Burt Franklin|location=New York|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/19564/19564-h/19564-h.htm|access-date=23 June 2017))</ref> The story of Greaves' capture of the island does not appear in historical Spanish records and may be fictional.<ref name="Pitcaithly">((cite web|last1=Pitcaithly|first1=Marcus|title=Pirate Corner: The kilted buccaneer|url=http://marcuspitcaithly.wixsite.com/marcus-pitcaithly/single-post/2014/07/15/Pirate-Corner-The-kilted-buccaneer|website=Marcus Pitcaithly|date=15 July 2014 |access-date=11 April 2018|language=en))</ref>

Construction of the [[Santa Rosa de la Eminencia castle]] was ordered by the governor, [[Juan Muñoz de Gadea]], after the French buccaneer [[Charles François d'Angennes, Marquis de Maintenon|Marquis de Maintenon]] attacked the island in early 1676.

=== Independence era ===
The island gained independence from the Spanish in 1814, after the collapse of the [[First Republic of Venezuela]]. It became the first permanently free territory in Venezuela. In the same year, [[Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi]] was detained in a dungeon of the Fortress of Santa Rosa on the island in an attempt to put pressure on her husband [[Juan Bautista Arismendi]], who was fighting for independence. Her detention lasted for over three years. In 1815 the general [[Pablo Morillo]] with a fleet of 18 warships and 42 cargo ships disembarked in Island Margarita with the mission to pacify the revolts against the Spanish monarchy in the American colonies. [[Simón Bolívar]] was confirmed as [[Commander-in-chief|Commander-in-Chief]] of the [[Second Republic of Venezuela]] on the island in 1816. From there, he started a [[Military career of Simón Bolívar|nine-year campaign]] to free [[Venezuela]], [[Colombia]], [[Ecuador]], [[Peru]], and [[Bolivia]] from the [[Spanish Crown]].

=== Contemporary history ===
In modern times, Margarita Island has been primarily a tourist destination.<ref name=":2">((Cite web|url=https://www.caracaschronicles.com/2019/05/05/margarita-paradise-gone-rack-and-ruin/|title=Margarita: Paradise Gone Rack and Ruin|last=Rosas|first=Roselis González|date=2019-05-05|website=[[Caracas Chronicles]]|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-12))</ref> The island's status as a [[Duty-free shop|duty-free]] port was established in 1974 to promote commercial and tourism industries, with lower-priced imports driving increased visitors and the development of hotels.<ref name=":2" /> The island was the host venue for the [[Caribbean Series]] in 2010 and 2014.

==Geography==
[[File:Nueva Esparta Map English.svg|thumb|left|upright=2|Nueva Esparta map]]

Located in the Caribbean Sea between latitudes 10°52'N and 11°11'N and longitudes 63°48'W and 64°23'W, the island, along with the islands of [[Coche, Venezuela|Coche]] and [[Cubagua]], comprises the state of [[Nueva Esparta]]. The island is split into two [[peninsula]]s joined by an ((convert|18|km|mi|0)) long [[isthmus]] and covers an area of ((convert|1,020|km2)).((citation needed|date=August 2018)) It is ((convert|78|km|mi|0)) long and measures roughly ((convert|20|km|mi|0)) at its widest. The climate is sunny and dry, with average temperatures ranging from ((convert|24|°C)) to ((convert|37|°C)).((cn|date=December 2022))

Most of the island's 420,000 residents live in the more developed eastern part of the island, which includes the large cities of [[Porlamar]] and [[Pampatar]], along with the state capital of [[La Asunción]]. The island can be reached by direct flights from [[Caracas]] or ferries from [[Puerto la Cruz]], [[Cumaná]], and [[La Guaira]].  There are no international flights to the island at present.

[[File:Monumento natural tetas de maría guevara.jpg|thumb|[[Tetas de Maria Guevara]] (twin mountains)]]
The [[Macanao peninsula]] to the west has a central [[mountain range]] in the east–west direction. The highest altitude is ((convert|760|m|ft|0)) at [[Pico de Macanao]]. Several smaller ranges derive from this axis following a north–south orientation with deep valleys between them. The most notable of these valleys is San Francisco in the north-central part of the peninsula. The Paraguachoa peninsula to the East is formed by a mountain range in the north–south direction from Porlamar to Cabo Negro. The highest peaks are San Juan or Cerro Grande at ((convert|920|m|ft|0)) and El Copey ((convert|890|m|ft|0)). The peninsulas are connected by the La Restinga isthmus, on which the [[Laguna de la Restinga|La Restinga lagoon]] is located. There are also two [[breast-shaped hill]]s known as [[Tetas de Maria Guevara]] on the isthmus.((cn|date=December 2022))

=== Beaches ===
[[File:Playa El Agua.JPG|thumb|[[Playa El Agua]]]]
[[File:Playa Puerto Cruz.JPG|thumb|Margarita Hilton at [[Playa Puerto Cruz]]]]
There are at least 70 beaches on the island, which has a ((convert|106|mi|km|0)) coastline. Popular beaches include [[Playa El Yaque]], [[Playa Parguito]], [[Playa Caribe]], [[Playa Punta Arenas]], [[Playa El Agua]] and [[Playa Puerto Cruz]].<ref name=":1" />

===Terrain===
[[Macanao peninsula]] consists of mountainous spine of the central west–east, with several culminations, including Macanao Peak, which is the highest, with an altitude of 760 meters above sea level stands. This axial region several side brackets oriented north–south off, including deep valleys are dissected; the most important is San Francisco in the north central of Margarita. The central massif is surrounded by foothills forming a more or less continuous, narrow strip, which reaches almost to the coast north and south of the peninsula.<ref name="terrain">[http://enmargarita.net/informacion-general/caracteristicas-fisicas/ Physical Characteristics of Isla Margarita] ((webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222134110/http://enmargarita.net/informacion-general/caracteristicas-fisicas/ |date=2014-12-22 )) (spanish)</ref>

=== Mountains ===
Isla Margarita eastern is formed by a mountain range which runs roughly north–south, from northern [[Porlamar]] to ''Cabo Negro''; north from the town of ''El Espinal'', the massif rises steeply to the culminations of San Juan and Copey hills, at heights of 920 and 890 m, respectively. The hills are Matasite and Guayamurí ''Los Andes'' foothills. To the north stands the Tragaplata hill.
[[File:San Juan Valley.jpg|thumb|Copey Hill – view from San Juan downtown]]
Among the higher elevations found on the island, are cited:

{|
| valign="top" |
'''Paraguachoa:'''
* San Juan Hill 920 meters [[Sea level|above mean sea level]]
* Copey Hill 890m [[Sea level|amsl]]
* Cocheima 810m [[Sea level|amsl]]
* Tragaplata Hill 640m [[Sea level|amsl]]
* El Cacho Hill 510m [[Sea level|amsl]]
| valign="top" |
'''Península de Macanao:'''
* Macanao Hill 750m [[Sea level|amsl]]
* Los Cedros Hill 745m [[Sea level|amsl]]
* Risco Blanco Hill 680m [[Sea level|amsl]] ((spaces|2))
* Guaraguao Hill 660m [[Sea level|amsl]]
* Soledad Hill 540m [[Sea level|amsl]]
* Piedra Lisa Hill 500m [[Sea level|amsl]]
* El Castillo Hill 380m [[Sea level|amsl]]
| valign="top" |
|}

The highest portion of the Serranía de Macanao forms a wide arc as a semicircle or amphitheater open to the northwest, surrounding a protected valley, extremely picturesque, where the town of S. Francisco is settled.
From the highest hill, Los Cedars, which occupy a central position, and Towards the northwest, the Serranía loses altitude gradually into a continuum in which alternating downward and small slopes climbs to the Guarataro hill, which from the east it stands out as a small pyramidal stone projection but from the north is projected as an isolated hill whose profile of steep and long slopes offers
one of the most striking perspectives of the silhouette of the entire Serranía.
Following the Guarataro and going north, there is a wide valley with rounded hills, crossed or separated by ravines or ravines.
Partial view of the Serranía. On the right the hill "Guarataro".
[[File:Child cast net in Laguna de Raya.jpg|upright=1.25|thumb|Mountains near Laguna de Raya]]
The road ascends and runs through this wide It is a valley with numerous curves, crossing the mountain through some trenches that have been artificially dug to avoid too steep a slope. To the north, on the right of the road
when you go to San Francisco the ground rises again forming a kind of mini mountain range with three or four elongated hills separated from each other by valleys that together form a continuous ridge in a northeasterly direction that occupies the geomorphological overhang
that breaks the uniformity of the rectangular perimeter of the peninsula, which, in this area projects as a rocky promontory that falls abruptly to the sea, forming cliffs Slope hills northwest of the Serranía, "the miniserranía", which fall to the sea in the area of "The Maguey". In the foreground, view of the desolate plain to the northwest of it.

Of very steep slopes and in some places practically vertical. From the northwest, This small mountain range stands out clearly as two elongated hills of similar height, separated by a well-defined watercourse. On the eastern slope, the main mountain range loses height sharply, however, until almost Boca del Río it extends in a sequence of rounded hills of little height that in their majority are of reddish sandstones and sparse, xerophilic, or absent, vegetation of aspect, but that at sunset acquires tonalities of surprising serenity and singular beauty. All of them are crossed by more or less deep ravines. To the north, the valley formed by the amphitheater of the high hills opens up to sea, but its lateral slopes also descend in hills of reddish sandstone until Partial view of the slope western part of the Serranía.

The coast leaving between the road and the sea a wide strip of coastline in which cliffs and coves. These last ones, because they are protected from the direct action of the dominant winds, allow the sands to be deposited forming beaches like those of Tunar, La Wall or The Mule. In some cases, already over the sea, there are isolated hills that stand out of the rest of the landscape as in La Pared and La Mula. The main mountain range has a relief of steep slopes and sharp peaks, forming a cut profile of steep slopes extremely characteristic and unmistakable, with a strong personality. From west to east, the names of some of these hills, of evocative and sonorous indigenous names, are: Cerro de Narciso, La Soledad, Risco Blanco, The Congo, Los Cedros (the highest), followed by Sacamanteca on the south side, Although according to the farmers their real name and without a doubt the original is Guainamal, others call it Macanao.

Mamantón, Cerro de L'aguá, Tapacular and Campanario. Between Manglillo and Guayacancito,
Near the edge of the road are the hills of Sabio and Pendejo which are of lesser height. La Soledad or Guainamal is the real Cerro Macanao. On the northern sides The hills of Gavilán and Guarataro stand out.

=== Macanao Peninsula ===
[[File:Stenocereus heptagonus from Macanao Peninsula.jpg|thumb|''[[Stenocereus heptagonus]]'' from Macanao Peninsula]]
With an extension of 330&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> and a rectangular contour of 23&nbsp;km in length and 14&nbsp;km in width, the Peninsula of Macanao, western portion
of Margarita Island, is linked to the eastern portion of the island by a sandy cord or restinga which separates the so-called Restinga beach from the lagoon de Arapano, the indigenous name of the body of water, better known today as Laguna de La Restinga, reserving Arapano's for the eastern portion, which is mostly devoid of mangroves. 
[[File:Macanao hill from La Restinga Lagoon.jpg|thumb|Macanao hill from La Restinga Lagoon]]
The sandy cord or beach is about 22&nbsp;km long and the lagoon has an extension of 23&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>. Its western end, which borders the Macanao Peninsula, receives the denomination of El Saco, zone that was habitually visited by the [[flamingo]]s or tococos that formed a pink stain visible from afar; then, when they lift up their flight they offer a show of incomparable color quality, especially when the sun's rays from the dusk, already oblique, they make stand out, with variety of soft shades, the pink color of the birds and their "jet" plane morphology with the neck stretched out and the wings placed in the center of the fuselage, long and slender.
From the geomorphological and landscape point of view, the Peninsula is characterized by presence of a mountain range (whose highest hill reaches 745 m) that occupies the entire portion of the peninsula, leaving free only, to the south, a coastal strip more or less wide that forms cliffs on the sea, terraces of filling, mouth of ravines or extensive salinetas that were ancient lagoons formed as a result of the interaction between sea currents and the contributions of the rivers whose joint action created a restinga or bar.

Later, the sedimentary contribution dragged by the torrents that descend from the hills filled them, leaving only the sandy elevation of the restinga, which separates them from the sea above the level of the clay substrate of the salineta, for that reason, in the season of big rains they fill up again with water and become slippery plains of clay or mud, impassable. In this coastal strip, which is between the road and the sea,
There is an abundance of debris: fragments of metamorphic rocks, stones and earth that have been the hills; and on which grows a poor xerophilic vegetation more or less dense. Among the cliffs there are beaches on which the fishermen's ranches settled around
which the towns were formed.

=== Climate ===
The average temperature is ((convert|32|°C)) with minimum ranging between ((convert|22|°C)) and ((convert|23|°C)) and maximum that can easily exceed ((convert|34|°C)). Rainfall is common in the winter months and rainy season that begins July–October (although the rain is usually quite rare). Being located in the [[Caribbean Sea]] near the [[Equator|Earth's equator]], solar rays fall perpendicularly on the island and therefore it is advisable to always use some sort of sunscreen when visiting its beaches.

==Municipalities==
((Nueva Esparta))

==Cities==
((Unreferenced section|date=December 2022))
[[File:Turismo en Pampatar 3.jpg|thumb|Playa La Salina near Pampatar]]
[[File:Punta Arenas, Peninsula de Macanao.jpg|thumb|[[Playa Punta Arenas]]]]
[[La Asunción]] is the capital of the Federal State of [[Nueva Esparta]] with a population of around 28,500. It is the seat of the regional government. The city is overlooked by the [[Santa Rosa de la Eminencia castle]].

The urban area of [[Pampatar]] has a population of around 50,000. A number of the island's larger shopping malls are located in the city, namely Sambil Margarita, Rattan Depot, Centro Comercial La Vela, Centro Comercial Costa Azul, Centro Comercial AB (Avenida Bolivar) and La Redoma. The [[San Carlos de Borromeo Fortress]], constructed in the late 17th century, is located in Pampatar. The city also has several beaches.

The largest city on Margarita Island is [[Porlamar]]. The population can reach 125,000 in the high season, while in the low season, the population is about 85,000. Two beaches are located within the city.  The island's major airport, [[Santiago Mariño Caribbean International Airport]], is located near Porlamar.

[[Juan Griego]] is a city on the northern side of Isla Margarita, and is the most northern port in Venezuela. It has a population of 28,256 inhabitants (as per census of 2001) and is the capital of the Marcano municipality of the Nueva Esparta state. Its Gothic-style church, constructed in 1850 by Fray Nicholas de Igualdad, is still, along with the lovely bay, the symbol of the city. The La Galera fortress, where in the early 1820s a fierce battle for independence was fought, is located near the city centre. In 1973, the island become a free port and the city once again become the second city of commercial importance after Porlamar.

==Population==
((Unreferenced section|date=December 2022))
[[File:Old house typical of the island of Margarita.jpg|thumb|A typical house in San Juan Bautista]]
[[File:Islamargaritanoche.jpg|thumb|View of Margarita island at night]]

The demonym for islanders is ''Margariteños/as'' and ''Neoespartanos/as''.

Ethnic minority populations of some significance include descendants of West Africans enslaved by the Spaniards, Lebanese, Syrians, [[Spanish people|Spanish]], [[Italian people|Italians]], Germans, French, Dutch, Swedes, Norwegians, Danes, Portuguese, Argentines, Chileans, Uruguayans, Colombians, and Chinese.

Immigrants from mainland Venezuela are colloquially called ''navegaos'' by islanders.

A little less than 25% of the Neoespartanian population live in Porlamar. Margarita's population is just under 440,000, although this tends to fluctuate during holiday periods and the festive season.

==Religion==
((Unreferenced section|date=December 2022))
[[File:La Asuncion.jpg|thumb|right|Front facade of [[La Asunción Cathedral]]]]

The predominant religion is [[Roman Catholicism]]. Other Christian denominations are also present. Of the churches that present in the Neospartan entity, among the most important are: [[Basilica of Our Lady of El Valle]] (in the Valley of the Espíritu Santo), [[La Asunción Cathedral]], Iglesia San Juan Evangelista (Juangriego), Iglesia parroquial de San Juan (San Juan Bautista), Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari (Porlamar), of the San José de Paraguachi and other churches and chapels minor located in populations of Santa Ana, Punta de Piedras, Porlamar, Pampatar and virtually all the towns of the island. There are also small populations of Jews and Muslims.

Evangelical Christian churches have had a significant growth in recent years demonstrating their presence and impact in the population of the island. One of the fastest-growing is the Centro Cristiano Casa de Alabanza (CCCA), present in Porlamar, Juan Griego, La Asunción and Tubores Municipality.

The patron saint of eastern Venezuela is the [[Virgen del Valle]]. In the population [[El Valle del Espíritu Santo]] is the Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora del Valle, which approaching Margarita, Coche and Cubagua islanders visit to honor her on her feast day.

==Natural heritage==
[[File:El Reino Musipan Aereas.jpg|thumb|El Reino Musipán amusement park]]

===Las Tetas de María Guevara===
The ''[[Tetas de Maria Guevara]]'' ("Maria Guevara's breasts"), located in a coastal plain in the south of the 1,670 hectare [[Laguna de La Restinga National Park]], are two small twin hills with a height of ((convert|135|m|ft|0)). The [[vegetation]] around the hills is [[desert]], with cacti, prickly pears, yaks, guamaches. The fauna is diverse, including desert lizards, rabbits, rattlesnakes and coral.

The [[legend]] told by the inhabitants of the island goes that the name María Guevara comes from a white young girl who was heavily involved in the [[War of Independence of Venezuela|War of Independence]] and that upon her death, the hills rose on her grave. Another Margaritan myth says the source of the name also comes from the same woman, but that she was from [[Cumaná]] and came to the island to lead a group of men in fishing activities. As she had small breasts, by way of derision whenever they sighted the hills said, "there are the lady's tits" and the name was created. The area was declared a national park on February 27, 1974.

== Crime ==
Since the beginning of the [[crisis in Venezuela]], the primary industry of tourism has declined 90% between 2010 and 2020.<ref name=":1">((Cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/america/venezuela/2020/01/12/como-un-paradisiaco-destino-turistico-venezolano-se-convirtio-en-una-base-del-trafico-de-droga-a-europa/|title=Cómo un paradisíaco destino turístico venezolano se convirtió en una base del tráfico de droga a Europa|date=12 January 2020|website=[[Infobae]]|language=es-ES|access-date=2020-01-12))</ref> The island is currently affected by [[organized crime]] and is recognized as an international hub for the [[illegal drug trade]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

=== Drug trafficking ===
((Further|Crime in Venezuela#Organized crime|Illegal drug trade in Venezuela))
Multiple international intelligence organizations have focused their investigations on Isla Margarita as being a major center of organized crime.<ref name=":0">((Cite web|url=https://notiespartano.com/2017/09/30/hezbollah-la-isla-margarita/|title=Hezbollah en la Isla de Margarita - Notiespartano|date=30 September 2017|website=Noti Espartano|language=es-ES|access-date=2018-07-27))</ref> According to the CIA World Factbook, Margarita Island is the location of significant narcotics-related money-laundering activity.<ref>((Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/venezuela/|title=South America :: Venezuela – The World Factbook|website=CIA World Factbook|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-10))</ref>

=== Violent crime ===
Since 2010, there have been numerous instances of tourist murders. On 27 August 2010, an Italian tourist, Emiliano Astore, was murdered on his boat anchored off Margarita Island in an apparent robbery. Two police officers and a civilian were arrested. A third officer was implicated in the "exploitation of objects" from the crime.<ref>((cite web|url=http://laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=365686&CategoryId=10717|title=Two Cops Arrested for Murder of Italian in Venezuela|publisher=Latin American Herald Tribune|access-date=3 March 2012|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107003238/http://laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=365686&CategoryId=10717|url-status=dead))</ref>

On 18 July 2011, 28-year-old Briton Tom Ossel was killed resisting seven armed robbers who had tricked their way into the Posada Casa Rosa backpackers' hotel in Playa El Agua before they took the guests hostage and raiding rooms for valuables.<ref>((cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/suspect-wanted-for-killing-briton-was-just-out-of-jail-6424662.html|title=Suspect wanted for killing Briton 'was just out of jail'|date=12 April 2012 |publisher=London Evening Standard))</ref>

On 29 March 2011, French tourist Yves Le Bras was murdered in a robbery at the Laguna Mar hotel, while he and his wife dined at the Guacuco restaurant.<ref name="yves">((cite news|url=http://www.eluniversal.com/2011/03/31/buscan-a-asesino-de-turista-en-todo-el-oriente-del-pais.shtml|title=Buscan a asesino de turista en todo el oriente del país|author=Ana Carolina Arias|date=31 March 2011|newspaper=El Universal|access-date=3 March 2012))</ref> In March 2011, Belgian tourist Philippe Bonne was murdered while eating in a fast food outlet in Playa El Agua, Margarita.<ref name="bonne">((cite web|url=http://www.entornointeligente.com/articulo/1101537/French-tourist-mugged-and-murdered-at-a-hotel-in-Margarita-Venezuela|title=French tourist mugged and murdered at a hotel in Margarita, Venezuela|date=30 March 2011|publisher=entornointeligente.com|access-date=3 March 2012))</ref><ref>((cite news |title=Private boat tours |url=https://casualmondaycharters.com/ |access-date=21 September 2023))</ref>

On 20 January 2012, about 30 or 35 Brazilian tourists were robbed in their hotel in Antolin del Campo, Margarita, by a gang of between 13 and 15 armed robbers.<ref name="antolin">((cite web|url=http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/elmundo/articulo-322113-asaltan-30-turistas-brasilenos-isla-margarita|title=Asaltan a 30 turistas brasileños en isla Margarita|publisher=El Mundo|access-date=3 March 2012))</ref>

On 3 September 2013, a Dutch sailor was killed on his yacht while resisting armed robbers attempting to board his boat.<ref>((cite web|url=http://www.noonsite.com/Countries/Venezuela/venezuela-isla-margarita-dutch-sailor-killed-whilst-resisting-robbery-on-board-september-2013|title=Venezuela, Isla Margarita: Dutch sailor killed whilst resisting robbery on board – September 2013))</ref>

On 7 February 2014, a few hours after arriving on the island, German cruise ship passenger Horst Kurt Fritz was killed by two gunmen on a motorcycle at a shop near the Sambil shopping center.<ref>((cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-shooting-tourist-idUSBREA1621020140207|title=German tourist, 76, shot dead on Venezuelan island|newspaper=Reuters |date=7 February 2014 ))</ref>
[[File:Panoramica Margarita.jpg|thumb|800px|center|Panorama of Margarita Island]]

==See also==
*[[Cariaco Basin]]

==References==
((Reflist))

==External links==
((Commons category))
((Wikivoyage))
<!-- ATTENTION! Please do not add links without discussion and consensus on the talk page. Undiscussed links will be removed. -->
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080925022214/http://www.nuevaesparta.gob.ve/ Nuevaesparta.gob.ve: Official Isla de Margarita government website] ((in lang|es))

((Isla Margarita))
((Authority control))

[[Category:Margarita Island| ]]
[[Category:Colonial Venezuela]]
[[Category:Geography of Nueva Esparta]]
[[Category:Venezuelan islands of the Leeward Antilles]]

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