To What Geographic Continent do the ABC Islands Belong?

[drbill]

I have a long-standing disagreement with a certain entity that is the arbiter of geographic information in the States. I wanted a definitive answer as to what geographic continent (of the 7 possible) the ABC Islands, specifically Bonaire, belongs.

I'm not referring to political or cultural affinities. I'm talking strictly the geographic affiliation based on underlying geology, etc.

I'm looking for answers from those who actually live in the ABC Islands, especially Bonaire. Once I get some replies I'll explain what I'm referring to regarding the disagreement.

TIA

 

[rakkis]

I'm no geologist, but it seems pretty obvious that the ABCs are part of the south American land mass. Just my uninformed vote

 

[Walter]

They are not part of a continent, they are small islands near, but not part of, South America.

 

[John_B]

Well after I got Panama wrong, I'm not about to attempt Bonaire.

John

 

[00scuba]

it's mine

 

[piikki]

I think the answer might be as unfilling Bonaire hangs on the edge of South American shelf or something like that...

 

[drbill]

They are not part of a continent, they are small islands near, but not part of, South America.

Ah, picky, picky, picky, my friend Walter! Of course you are right. Likewise my own Santa Catalina is not part of the North American continent, but it is considered a North American dive site. Neither Catalina nor the ABC islands are considered oceanic, so they do have an affiliation geologically. I did say which continent were the islands associated with, not which they were a part of.

 

[maj2]

Not really a field in which I am strong, but curiosity got the better of me.

This might be of use to you regarding the geology and geochronology of the ABCs and Venezuelan archipelago:
http://www.ig.utexas.edu/bolivar/research/geo.htm

This quote would indicate a closer geologic affinity to South America:

Finally, we have dated two plutonic bodies on Los Testigos, which sits near the terminus of the modern Lesser Antilles arc (figure 2), at ca 37 Ma. This probably represents the end of magmatism on this section of the modern arc due to initiation of its accretion to the Venezuelan continental margin.

Hopefully this helps answer your question (unless the authors of the above document are those with whom you have the long standing disagreement!)

 

[ScubaCrash]

Well considering the ABCs are somewhat close offshore of Venezuela, and utilizing my 2 semesters of Geology I took in college 20 some years ago I'd say the ABCs are most closely associated with South America. They all sit on the same tectonic plate (south american plate) as well.

 

[Kim]

I did say which continent were the islands associated with, not which they were a part of.

Ah...then it's easy. They are most associated with the Netherlands, and therefore Europe. I believe Aruba is even trying to become a Dutch province. (Similar to Hawaii and the US)

Geologically Walter was completely correct. They are individual islands separated from the S. American continental shelf by deep (really deep) water.