an island in the Caribbean Sea, lies off the coast of Venezuela, of which republic it forms a province, 30 miles N. of Cumana; Lat. 11. 30. N., Long. 64. W. It is about 45 miles in length, and varies in breadth from 5 to 20 miles. Area 441 square miles. It is separated from the mainland by a channel 20 miles in breadth, which has to be passed through by all vessels approaching from the E. the ports of Venezuela. The island is composed of two parts, united by a low and narrow isthmus, so that from a distance it presents the appearance of two distinct islands. At the isthmus the land is not more than 10 or 12 feet above the level of the sea, but near the western extremity a lofty mountain, called Maranon, rises to the height of 5000 feet. Near the sea the soil is dry and unproductive, and the coasts are rugged and bold, indented, however, with three harbours, Pampatar on the S.E., Pueblo-de-la-Mar on the S., and Pueblo-del-Norte on the N. In the interior, the soil, though sandy, is fertile, and produces Indian corn, bananas, sugar, cotton, &c. Live stock and poultry are also reared; and salt and fish are obtained in considerable quantities. The island derives its name from the pearls found here, the fishing of which formed a considerable part of the occupations of the inhabitants. This was principally carried on in the rocky islet of Coche, in the channel of Margarita; but this branch of industry has much declined of late, as the pearls are now neither so large in size nor so fine in quality as formerly. The principal manufactures of the island are: those of cotton stockings and hammocks. A good deal of illicit traffic goes on between this island and the British and French possessions in the West Indies. Margarita is more thickly inhabited than any other part of South America; and there are several towns and villages in the island, the most important of which are, Assumption, the capital, which is a well-built town, not far from the centre, and Pampatar, a seaport on the S.E. This island was first visited by Columbus in 1498, and has in more recent times (1816) been the scene of a bloody warfare between the revolutionists and the Spanish troops under General Murillo, in which the latter were defeated. Pop. (1854), 23,967.