Total islands 8 Width 7 km (4.3 mi) | Archipelago Îles de Los Length 10 km (6 mi) Area 80 km² | |
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Major islands Tamara (Fortoba), Kassa and Roume Similar Sandervalia National Museum, Grand Mosque of Conakry, Fouta Djallon, Hotel Mariador Palace, Hotel Palm Camayenne | ||
Îles de Los (English: Los Islands) are an island group lying off Conakry in Guinea. Their name is derived from the Portuguese: Ilhas dos Ídolos, "Island of the Idols". They are located about 2 km off the headland limiting the southern side of Sangareya Bay.
Contents
- Map of Iles de Los Guinea
- Geography
- Tamara
- Roume
- Kassa
- History
- British possession 1818 1904
- Part of French Guinea 1904 1958
- References
Map of Iles de Los, Guinea
The islands are best known for their beaches and forested interiors and are popular with tourists. Ferries sail to the Los from Conakry.
Geography
There are three main islands: Tamara (Fortoba), Kassa and Roume. Île de Corail, Île Blanche, Île Cabris, Île Poulet, Îlot Cabri and Îlot de la Bouteille are smaller islands and islets located in the southern half.
Tamara
Tamara is home to the Île Tamara lighthouse. There was also a prison built on Tamara.
Roume
This island has also previously been known as Crawford Island, when under British rule. Roume is said to have inspired the novel Treasure Island.
Kassa
This island has also previously been known as Factory Island. The name is derived from the Portuguese word "casa".
History
The islands been inhabited for a long time and rose to prominence for their role in slave trade. In 1755 Miles Barber of the African Company of Liverpool established a factory there employing workers skilled in ship repair as well as pilots for the local rivers. This led to Kassa being known as "Factory Island". English language sources in the 18th century gave various corrupted names for the islands including "Isles of Loss", "the Edlesses", "The Idols", or "Las Idolas".
In 1812 Samuel Samo, a Dutch slave trade was seized by the British there and taken to Freetown, Sierra Leone where he appeared before the vice admiralty court. He was the first person tried under the British Slave Trade Felony Act 1811.
British possession (1818-1904)
Charles MacCarthy, the Governor of Sierra Leone signed a treaty with Mangé Demba whereby the islands were ceded to the British for the payment of an annual rent on 6 July 1818. McCarthy then asked Peter Machlan, a surgeon with the 2nd West Indian Regiment to write an account of the islands and surrounding areas. This was published as Travels into the Baga and Soosoo country during the year 1821.
Part of French Guinea (1904-1958)
Following a visit by Edward VII to France, and a return visit by President Loubet of France, a Franco-British agreement was reached by 7 April 1904: Îles de Los was handed over to France in exchange for France relinquishing fishing rights in Newfoundland and Labrador. They were incorporated into French Guinea, one of the constituent parts of French West Africa on July 1904. Scipio O'Connor was the first colonial administrator appointed by the French.