Île Frégate is a small, uninhabited island in the

Caribbean Sea The Caribbean Sea ( es, Mar Caribe; french: Mer des Caraïbes; ht, Lanmè Karayib; jam, Kiaribiyan Sii; nl, Caraïbische Zee; pap, Laman Karibe) is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico ...

located off the north coast of

Saint Barthélemy Saint Barthélemy (french: Saint-Barthélemy, ), officially the Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Barthélemy, is an overseas collectivity of France in the Caribbean. It is often abbreviated to St. Barth in French, and St. Barts in English ...

, an

overseas collectivity The French overseas collectivities (''collectivité d'outre-mer'' or ''COM'') are first-order administrative divisions of France, like the French regions, but have a semi-autonomous status. The COMs include some former French overseas colonies ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

. Île Frégate is situated within the Nature Reserve of Saint Bartholomew, which was established in 1996 with the objective of conserving coral reefs, sea grass beds and marine life.

Geography

Île Frégate is an uninhabited

cay A cay ( ), also spelled caye or key, is a small, low-elevation, sandy island on the surface of a coral reef. Cays occur in tropical environments throughout the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, including in the Caribbean and on the Great ...

in the Caribbean. Situated north of Saint Barthélemy, it is one of its satellite islands. Due to its shape, Île Frégate has been described as "twin islets". It is the second northeasternmost of a series of islands, and lies between Île Chevreau and Île Toc Vers. Île Fregate is located to the west of Île Toc Vers, a "pointed islet." According to sailing information, traversing through the channel between the two islets should be avoided. Île Frégate is situated within the Réserve naturelle nationale de Saint-Barthélemy, which also includes Gros Îlets and

Pain de Sucre Pain is a distressing feeling often caused by intense or damaging stimuli. The International Association for the Study of Pain defines pain as "an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, ...

; the waters surrounding the islets Fourchue, and Île Toc Vers; and part of Colombier bay. Situated on the windward side of the marine reserve, it is noted for sea life which can be viewed while snorkeling.

Flora and fauna

Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) (8592689268)

The high islet features grass and bush flora. Its protected area measures . Bird life on the island has included a

frigatebird Frigatebirds are a family of seabirds called Fregatidae which are found across all tropical and subtropical oceans. The five extant species are classified in a single genus, ''Fregata''. All have predominantly black plumage, long, deeply forked ...

colony, although this has been significantly diminished due to the removal of bird eggs. According to the

International Union for Conservation of Nature The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of nat ...

, '' Iguana delicatissima'' or Lesser Antillean Green Iguana, and West Indian Iguana have been found on Île Frégate. '' Sphaerodactylus sputator'' (Leeward Banded Sphaero) was recorded on the island in 2012.

References

Bibliography

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