page_title: Roatán
section_title: Geography
hierarchical_section_title: Roatán / Geography
caption_attribution_description: English: Decorative map of Roatan Bay Islands
context_page_description: Roatán is an island in the Caribbean, about 65 kilometres off the northern coast of Honduras. It is located between the islands of Útila and Guanaja, and is the largest of the Bay Islands of Honduras. The island was formerly known in English as Ruatan and Rattan.
  It is approximately 77 kilometres long, and less than 8 kilometres across at its widest point.
  The island consists of two municipalities: José Santos Guardiola in the east and Roatán, including the Cayos Cochinos, further south in the west.
context_section_description: The island rests on an exposed ancient coral reef, rising to about 270 metres (890 ft) above sea level.  Offshore reefs offer opportunities for diving. Most habitation is in the western half of the island.
  The most populous town of the island is Coxen Hole, capital of Roatán municipality, located in the southwest. West of Coxen Hole are the settlements of Gravel Bay, Flowers Bay and Pensacola on the south coast, and Sandy Bay, West End and West Bay on the north coast.  To the east of Coxen Hole are the settlements of Mount Pleasant, French Harbour, Parrot Tree, Jonesville and Oakridge on the south coast, and Punta Gorda on the north coast.
  The easternmost quarter of the island is separated by a channel through the mangroves that is 15 metres wide on average.  This section is called Helene, or Santa Elena in Spanish.  Satellite islands at the eastern end are Morat, Barbareta, and Pigeon Cay.  Further west between French Harbour and Coxen Hole are several cays, including Stamp Cay and Barefoot Cay.
caption: Roatan Bay Islands from hotel lobby display
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