Corn Islands

The Corn Islands, along with the eastern half of present-day Nicaragua, were a British protectorate from 1655 until 1860, a period when the region was called the Mosquito Coast. At one time, the islands were frequented by Caribbean pirates. The Nicaraguan government annexed the region in 1894.

Under the Bryan–Chamorro Treaty of 1914, the islands were leased to the United States for a period of 99 years. The terms of the lease made the Corn Islands subject to the sovereignty of the United States.[1] The lease notwithstanding, the United States never maintained a significant presence in the islands. The right of the United States to use of the islands remained until April 25, 1971, when the lease was officially terminated by the mutual renunciation of the Bryan–Chamorro Treaty on July 14, 1970, under the presidencies of Anastasio Somoza Debayle[2] and Richard Nixon.

The Corn Islands consist of the Great Corn Island (often simply referred to as Corn Island), with an area of 10 square kilometres (3.9 sq mi), and Little Corn Island, with an area of 2.9 square kilometres (1.1 sq mi). The total area is 12.9 square kilometres (5.0 sq mi). Mount Pleasant Hill in the north of Great Corn Island, is the highest elevation of the islands, at 113 metres (371 ft). Little Corn Island reaches a height of 38 metres (125 ft) at Lookout Point in the northern part of the island.

According to the Köppen climate classification, the nearby mainland region of Bluefields features a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af). There is a drier period from February to April, but the trade winds ensure that unlike the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, rain still falls frequently during this period. For the rest of the year when tropical low pressure dominates rainfall is extremely heavy, helped by the coast being shaped in such a manner as to intercept winds from the south as prevail during the northern summer.

The population of the islands numbered 6,626 as of 2005 (census of population, May 28 to June 11, 2005).[4]

As of early 2009, local authorities estimated the population of Great Corn Island to be 6,200 and that of Little Corn Island to be 1,200. The distribution of tourists is estimated to be roughly 25% at Great Corn Island and 75% at Little Corn Island.

The islanders are mostly of Afro-descendant, English-speaking Creole people, some of whom are mixed with indigenous people.

The municipality of Corn Island is subdivided into six wards (barrios), five of which are on Great Corn Island, while Little Corn Island constitutes the sixth ward:

Corn Islands Lighthouse

Location	Corn Islands, South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region, Nicaragua
Coordinates	12°17′24″N 82°58′58″W
Tower
Construction	concrete (foundation), metal (tower)
Height	15 m (49 ft)
Shape	square pyramidal skeletal tower with balcony and light
Markings	white
Power source	solar power
Operator	Aquatic Transport Directorate[6][7]
Light
Focal height	50 m (160 ft)
Range	8 nmi (15 km; 9.2 mi)
Characteristic	Fl W

Great Corn Island has a paved road about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) long which runs the length of the island. Automobiles, motorbikes and bicycles are the primary means of transport on the island. Most cars are used as taxis and cost 30 Cordobas for each ride of an adult person. The only other public transportation option is the bus that circles the island clockwise and costs 10 cordobas.

Little Corn Island is accessible by fast boats, usually three or four times per day depending on weather from Great Corn Island, and by a small cargo ship from the port at Southwest Bay on Great Corn Island (World Port Index No. 9775). Little Corn Island has no motor vehicles. Due to its small size, all transport on the island is done on foot.

Throughout most of the 20th century, the economy revolved around coconut production. During the 1960s and 1970s, commercial fishing as well as lobster and shrimp fishing, became the main industry. The recent growth in tourism throughout the region, however, has also affected the islands. Tourism on the islands has grown considerably, with their many surrounding coral reefs making them a popular destination for scuba diving and snorkeling.

Barracudas, nurse sharks, hammerhead sharks, green sea turtles, and spotted eagle rays are among the marine life that can be seen around the islands.

Baseball is a popular sport in the Corn Islands. The main stadium on the island is the Karen Tucker Baseball Stadium.

The cuisine of Corn Island is varied, most of the dishes are seafood and boco based.

The typical dish of Corn Island is crab soup, rondon, fried fish, rice with shrimp, among others.

• Cheslor Cuthbert, professional baseball player for the Chicago White Sox

• List of lighthouses in Nicaragua

• 
  Coast of Little Corn Island
• 
  Aerial view of Corn Island
• 
  Sally Peachie, Corn Island
• 
  Long Bay, Corn Island

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Corn Islands.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Big Corn Island.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Little Corn Island.

• RightSide Guide: The survival guide to the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua
• BigCornIsland.com Tourism on the Corn Islands
• 2007 trip report
• Bluefields and Corn Island, a history written by Maureen Tweedy
• LittleCornIsland.net About Little Corn Island
• Corn Island Guidee