Blanquilla is an island, one of the Federal Dependencies of Venezuela,[1] located in the south-eastern Caribbean Sea about 293 km (182 miles) north-east of Caracas. It is a popular location for divers, as well as famous for its white sand beaches, for which it is named.
Geography
The island is formed by the Aves Ridge, a seafloor feature which protrudes above water to the north, forming several other islands. Its reefs are notable for their black coral, which is used for jewelry and other crafts. [2][3][4][5][6] The island has an area of around 64.53 km2[7]
In 2014, assertions made by the Hong Kong media that Venezuela was considering transferring ownership of Blanquilla island to China in exchange for the forgiveness of its $50 billion in debt were denied by the Chinese government.[citation needed]