Lenagan Island
Lenagan Island is a small island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. At only 0.27 hectares (<1 acre), it is one of The Five Islands lying west of the Port of Spain in the Gulf of Paria.[1][2]
History
Lenagan Island, named after its early 19th century owner Louis Lenagan, was completely uninhabited before and during Lenagan's lifetime. Following his death, the island was passed to his son, who died shortly after. The island was then repossessed by the government and used as a quarantine locale beginning 1866.
Immigrants, especially East Indian indentured laborers, bound for Trinidad and Tobago often caught illnesses and contagious diseases during their sea journeys. When nearby Nelson Island began to be used for quarantine, Lenagan became a hospital for the critically ill and highly contagious immigrants. Foreigners who died on Lenagan were illegally cremated on a platform on the Western end of the island.[2][3]
Currently, the island is under the protection of the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago as a heritage site. It is uninhabited, only housing wildlife and the hospital's ruins.[2]
See also
References
- ^ Newsday (2020-04-29). "The Five Islands - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday". newsday.co.tt. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
- ^ a b c "Lenagan Island". National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
- ^ Newsday (2020-04-29). "The Five Islands - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday". newsday.co.tt. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
| Major Islands |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Bocas Islands | ||
| The Five Islands |
| |
| San Diego Islands | ||
| Selected Islands off Tobago | ||
| Other Islands | ||
10°39′40.73″N 61°35′57.64″W / 10.6613139°N 61.5993444°W / 10.6613139; -61.5993444