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A paradise in
the Caribbean Sea. |
| Satellite view
of "LOS ROQUES" |
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It always was my
wish to visit Los Roques
...
Los Roques is an archipelago in the Caribbean Sea,
located 90 miles north of the mainland-coast. Los Roques
Islands became a National Park in 1972 and is the largest
marine reserve park in Latin-America. It covers more than
2.251 KM2 and consists of more then 100 inhabited islands,
except Gran Roque. The archipelago is
similar in size of the complete Northern Caribbean
Virgin Islands.
1529 Los Roques is noted the 1st time on
nautical charts, and since 1589 it belonged to the former
Spanish Province of Venezuela.
Most tourist who visit
Los Roques go by air and then charter boats for sightseeing,
snorkeling, scuba or fishing.
Los Roques is not a
low-budget destiny for tourists ...
For July 2011 our DX Club
received an invitation from the Venezuelan Navy to celebrate
the Navy-Day from the main Island "Gran Roque".
We left the port of la Guaira in the late evening of
July 13, 2011 and anchored the next morning around sunrise
at the front of the island of "Gran Roque"
(look at the map above).
We found, that all Venezuelan
Cellular-Phone Companies cover the Islands. Also fast access
to Internet (UMTS) is available. |
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| The main-island "Gran Roque" from
where we operated. (Picture from
Wikipedia) |
Our plan was to operate from
two locations on Gran Roque.
So one
station (QTH 1) we installed at a Navy
facility directly at the beach, and the other one (QTH
2) at a lighthouse on top of a hill.
The
lighthouse is very old, and has been replaced by another
one, not very far away. If you look carefully, you can see
it on the above picture on the top.
At
QTH 1 we installed the equipment and antennas
for all HF-Bands on our 1st day. The second day a few brave
fellows climbed up the hill to QTH 2, with
stations for 7, 28, 50 and 144 MHz. A good physical
condition is required to carry all the radio-equipment, inclusive
gasoline and a power-plant.
The hike is not easy, even
without carrying things, climbing up the stony path under
severe heat-conditions.
The lighthouse is called the
"Dutch Lighthouse" and is located about 70m above sea-level.
On Google you find some interesting histories about the
lighthouse ... |
| Our first impression of QTH 1 (on
the beach) and QTH 2 on the top). |
| Gran Roque after sunrise (in the
background the electrical power plant and the sea-water
desalination-plant). |
| Something is going on :-). |
| Our equipment on the way to Gran Roque. |
| Our antennas are arriving. |
| The 1st brainstorm session after our
arrival :-) |
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