Vieques

Vieques, in full Isla de Vieques, is an island municipality of Puerto Rico, United States within the northeastern Caribbean, a part of an island grouping from time to time referred to as the Spanish Virgin Islands. Vieques is a part of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and retains sturdy affects from 400 years of Spanish presence within the island. Vieques become struck by way of Hurricane Maria on Sept. 19, 2017.

The hurricane caused enormous devastation and a near total shutdown of the island's tourism-based financial system. The biggest hotel at the island, The W, has not reopened because the hurricane, although maximum smaller resorts, bed and breakfasts, and Airbnb operators have resumed operations. Vieques lies about eight miles east of the Puerto Rican mainland, and measures about 20 miles lengthy by way of 4.5 miles extensive. Its maximum populated barrio is Isabel Segunda, the workplace at the northern facet of the island.

The populace of Vieques become 9,301 at the 2010 Census. The island's call is a Spanish spelling of an Native American word stated to mean "small island". It additionally has the nickname "Isla Nena", typically translated from Spanish as "Little Girl Island", alluding to its perception as Puerto Rico's little sister. This name was given to the island with the aid of the famous Puerto Rican poet Luis Lloren Torres. During the colonial period, the British name become "Crab Island".