Flores is a small, but densely populated island in the eastern Caribbean Sea. The island is located about halfway between Colombia and Venezuela, and has an estimated population of just over 900,000 people. The main language spoken on Flores is Spanish, although there are also significant numbers of indigenous languages spoken.
The history of Flores can be traced back to the early 16th century, when explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa discovered the island and named it after his patron saint, St. Fructuoso. Over the years, Flores has been colonized by various nations, including Portugal, Spain, Britain and the United States. In 1975, the country became an autonomous republic within the Venezuelan federation.
The economy of Flores revolves around agriculture (mainly coffee), tourism (especially for scuba diving) and trade (both with Venezuela and Colombia). The government of Flores is a presidential republic with a unicameral legislature. Education is compulsory from kindergarten through to university level and there are several hospitals and clinics available. Healthcare is generally good quality, albeit expensive. Social life in Flores revolves around popular sports such as football (soccer) and basketball as well as nightlife in busy towns like Puerto Villarica.
Flores