Federal Dependencies

The Federal Dependencies form an administrative territory off the Caribbean coast of Venezuela, covering dozens of small islands and coral reefs. The islands spread across a long coastal stretch and lie both in the open Caribbean Sea and the western gulf.

Indigenous groups used the islands for centuries as fishing stations and salt collection sites before European ships arrived in the 16th century. The Venezuelan government took direct control of the scattered islands in the 20th century and created a special administrative territory.

The name reflects the governance structure under direct federal oversight, distinct from ordinary states in the national system. The small number of permanent residents mostly work in fishing and lead lives closely tied to tides and ocean currents.

Access to most islands requires travel by boat or small aircraft, with connections varying by weather and wave conditions. Visitors should note that many islands remain uninhabited and offer limited facilities.

Some of the reefs form shallow lagoons with turquoise water that turn into natural swimming pools at low tide. The salt-rich soils on certain islands still show white deposits from earlier salt collection periods.