Isla de Margarita was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1498, and was given the Greek name
La Margarita, meaning 'pearl.' However, the name was later changed
to Isla de Margarita, by Spanish monarchs, in honor of the princess from Austria who was set to marry Spanish Prince Don Juan. The local natives,
Guaiqueries, welcomed Christopher Columbus and his crew, unaware that they would be exploited and made into slaves. Their extraction of pearls profited into a third of the
Spanish Crown.
In 1561 the Spanish rebel, Lope de Aguirre, seized the island, and brutally opposed any threat of suppression against him. He was eventually captured and killed after crossing
South America in an attempt to gain control of
Panama. Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, forts were built along the coast of Isla de Margarita, to counter the growing number of pirate invasions.
The island successfully gained independence from the Spanish in 1814, and became the first permanent free territory of
Venezuela. In 1974 Margarita Island was declared a free port by the Venezuelan government, which led to a major growth in the economy and tourist industry. Today, the main source of income for the island is tourism; which comes as no surprise, considering the island is fabled for consistently sunny weather, and some of the most desirable beaches in the Caribbean.
A local fisherman tends to his boat
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- Name: Isla de Margarita
(an island territory of Venezuela)
- Capital City: La Asuncion (23,097 pop.)
- Isla de Margarita Population: 436,900 (2010 est.)
- World Populations (all countries)
- Currency: Venezuela Bolivar Fuerte (VEF)
(conversion rates)
Five Venezuela Bolivares Fuertes
- Language: Spanish (official)
- Largest Cities: (by population) Porlamar, Pampatar, La Asuncion, Juan Griego
- Name: Originally given the greek name Margarita, for the pearls covering the seabed around the island; the name was later changed to Isla de Margarita for the princess of Austria who was set to marry the Spanish Prince Don Juan
- National Day: July 5
- Religion: Catholic, others
Isla de Margarita is part of the Nueva Esparta state in Venezuela, and flies the Venezuelan flag.
Larger Venezuela flag 
La Asuncion City Cathedral, Isla Margarita
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Cerro Grande 3,018 ft (920 m) 
Caribbean Sea 0 m
