Swan Islands of the Caribbean
The Swan Islands, or Islas Santanilla, are a chain of three tiny islands located in the northwestern Caribbean Sea, approximately 110 miles north off the coastline of Honduras or 180 miles ENE from Roatan in the Bay Islands of Honduras, with a land area of 8 sq km (3.1 sq mi).
Swan Islands Military SignificanceBoth the United States and Honduras claimed the Swan Islands until the United States dropped its claim under the Guano Islands Act in 1972.
The islands gained attention in the early 1960s due to the activities of Radio Swan, that began broadcasting in May 1960 during preparation for, and during, the abortive Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba. The station was removed from the islands in the late 1960s and its main transmitter was transferred for use in the Vietnam War. In October 1998, Hurricane Mitch moved over the Swan Islands with winds of 180 mph causing damage to the entire islands. |
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