The Federal Dependencies of Venezuela are a group of offshore islands and archipelagos in the Caribbean Sea characterized by coral reefs, sandy cays, lagoons, and tropical marine ecosystems.

Federal Dependencies of Venezuela

📍 Federal Dependencies of Venezuela are a collection of offshore islands located in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela. They are not a single island but a dispersed group of hundreds of small islands, cays, and reefs stretching along a wide arc off Venezuela’s northern coast, with no land borders and surrounded entirely by the Caribbean Sea.

The Federal Dependencies’ geography is characterized by a vast scattering of more than 600 islands and smaller formations, most of which are very small and low-lying. The total land area is relatively limited—about 342 square kilometers (132 square miles)—with many islands consisting of sandy cays, coral reefs, and rocky outcrops. The largest island, La Tortuga, accounts for a significant portion of the territory. Surrounding waters are shallow and rich in marine biodiversity, including coral reefs and fisheries. The islands are sparsely populated and often lack infrastructure, with many remaining uninhabited. Their dispersed nature, tropical climate, and marine environments have shaped their role in fishing, conservation, and maritime activity, while also giving Venezuela strategic control over a large area of Caribbean waters.