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{{short description|small Portuguese archipelago}}
{{Short description|Small Portuguese archipelago}}
{{unreferenced|date=January 2017}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox islands
{{Infobox islands
| name = Desertas Islands
| name = Desertas Islands
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| native_name_lang =
| native_name_lang =
| sobriquet = <!-- or |nickname= -->
| sobriquet = <!-- or |nickname= -->
| image_name = DesertaGrandeDSC07376.jpg
| image_name = Ventura do Mar (27284243454).jpg
| image_size =
| image_size =
| image_caption = Visiting sailboats at the bay of the Ilhas Desertas Nature Reserve, the islands are uninhabited.
| image_caption = Visiting sailboat at the bay of the Ilhas Desertas Nature Reserve. The islands are uninhabited.
| image_alt =
| image_alt =
| image_map = Madeira topographic map-fr.svg
| image_map = Madeira topographic map-fr.svg
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| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}
The '''Desertas Islands''' ({{lang-pt|Ilhas Desertas}}, {{IPA-pt|ˈiʎɐʒ ðɨˈzɛɾtɐʃ|IPA}}, "Deserted Islands") are a small [[archipelago]], in the [[Macaronesia]] region of the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. They are within the Portuguese [[Madeira|Autonomous Region of Madeira]], and part of the larger Madeira Archipelago.
The '''Desertas Islands''' ({{langx|pt|Ilhas Desertas}}, {{IPA|pt|ˈiʎɐʒ ðɨˈzɛɾtɐʃ|IPA}}, "Deserted Islands") are a small [[archipelago]] in the [[Atlantic Ocean]], part of the larger Portuguese [[Madeira|Madeira Archipelago]].


The archipelago is located off the coast of [[Morocco]]. Deserta Grande Island is located about {{convert|25|km|mi}} southeast of the eastern tip of [[Madeira Island]], [[Ponta de São Lourenço]].
The archipelago is located off the coast of [[Morocco]]. Deserta Grande Island is located about {{convert|25|km|mi}} southeast of the eastern tip of [[Madeira Island]], [[Ponta de São Lourenço]].
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===Administration===
===Administration===
Administratively, the islands are part of the [[Santa Cruz, Madeira|Municipality of Santa Cruz]] in Madeira, and in the Santa Cruz [[freguesia|civil parish]].
Administratively, the islands are part of the [[Santa Cruz, Madeira|Municipality of Santa Cruz]] in Madeira, and in the Santa Cruz [[freguesia|civil parish]].


The islands are a designated Portuguese [[nature reserve]]. A licence is needed to land there.
The islands are a designated Portuguese [[nature reserve]]. A licence is needed to land there.


==Natural history==
==Natural history==
[[File:Deserta Grande Wardens-HouseDSC07384.jpg|thumb|left|Nature reserve warden’s house on [[Deserta Grande Island]]]]
[[File:Deserta Grande Wardens-HouseDSC07384.jpg|thumb|left|Nature reserve warden's house on [[Deserta Grande Island]]]]
[[File:P. A. Zino.gif|thumb|upright|left|[[Paul Alexander Zino]]]]
[[File:P. A. Zino.gif|thumb|upright|left|[[Paul Alexander Zino]]]]
Though close to the main island of Madeira, where the islands can often be seen on the horizon, the geology of the Ilhas Desertas is starkly different. The high, long, and rocky islands of the group are barren of [[topsoil]], and the only [[wildlife]] consists of about sixteen [[species]] of [[bird]]s, including eight species of [[seabirds]], and a scarce population of [[feral]] [[goat]]s, [[rabbit]]s, and [[rodent]]s, brought from [[Portugal]] by the mariners who first touched the rocky shores. The [[Deserta Grande wolf spider]] and [[Madeiran wall lizard]] also exist in the fragile and [[arid]] [[ecosystem]].
Though near the main island of Madeira, where the islands can often be seen on the horizon, the geology of the Ilhas Desertas is starkly different. The high, long, and rocky islands of the group are barren of [[topsoil]], and the only [[wildlife]] consists of about sixteen [[species]] of [[bird]]s, including eight species of seabirds, and a scarce population of [[feral]] [[goat]]s, [[rabbit]]s, and [[rodent]]s, brought from [[Portugal]] by the mariners who first reached the rocky shores. The [[Deserta Grande wolf spider]] and [[Madeiran wall lizard]] also exist in the fragile and [[arid]] [[ecosystem]].


The only inhabitable island, with its own water source, is [[Deserta Grande Island|Deserta Grande]]. This water is however murky and scarce, and all historical attempts to colonise the island failed due to the impracticability of communal agriculture.
The only inhabitable island, with its own water source, is [[Deserta Grande Island|Deserta Grande]]. This water is murky and scarce, and historic attempts to colonise the island failed due to the impracticability of agriculture.


A tiny colony of [[Mediterranean monk seal]]s inhabit the beaches, and since 1990 the islands have been constituted as a [[nature reserve]] for their protection. Although in 1998 the colony numbered only eight, now, the population numbers approximately forty seals. The only human presence is the permanent wardens, geologists, occasional boaters, and the few research stations on the islands.
A tiny colony of [[Mediterranean monk seal]]s inhabits the beaches, and since 1990 the islands have been constituted as a [[nature reserve]] for their protection. In 1998, the colony numbered only eight; now the population is approximately forty seals. The only humans on the islands are the permanent wardens, geologists, occasional boaters, and those who work at the few research stations.

===Important Bird Area===
The Desertas archipelago has been recognised as an [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA) by [[BirdLife International]] because of its [[seabird]] [[bird colony|colonies]]. These include [[Fea's petrel|Fea's]] and [[Bulwer's petrel]]s, [[Cory's shearwater|Cory's]] and [[Barolo shearwater]]s, [[band-rumped storm petrel]]s, [[common tern]]s and [[Caspian gull]]s.<ref name=bli>{{cite web |url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/ilhas-desertas-iba-portugal|title= Ilhas Desertas|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2021|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 19 January 2021}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[:Category:Islands of the Autonomous Region of Madeira|Islands of the Autonomous Region of Madeira]]
*[[:Category:Islands of the Autonomous Region of Madeira|Islands of the Autonomous Region of Madeira]]
*[[List of islands of Portugal]]
*[[List of islands of Portugal]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
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*[http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/north_africa/txu-oclc-6949452-ni28-13.jpg Topographic map of the Desertas Islands (1:250,000)]
*[http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/north_africa/txu-oclc-6949452-ni28-13.jpg Topographic map of the Desertas Islands (1:250,000)]


{{portalbar|Islands|Portugal}}
{{Municipalities of Madeira}}
{{Municipalities of Madeira}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Islands of the Autonomous Region of Madeira]]
[[Category:Islands of the Autonomous Region of Madeira]]
[[Category:Islands of Macaronesia]]
[[Category:Islands of Macaronesia]]
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[[Category:Archipelagoes of Portugal]]
[[Category:Archipelagoes of Portugal]]
[[Category:Natura 2000 in Portugal]]
[[Category:Natura 2000 in Portugal]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Madeira]]

Latest revision as of 09:42, 2 November 2024

Desertas Islands
Native name:
Ilhas Desertas
Visiting sailboat at the bay of the Ilhas Desertas Nature Reserve. The islands are uninhabited.
Location of the Desertas Islands archipelago,
in the Madeira Islands Archipelago, Macaronesia.
Desertas Islands is located in Atlantic Ocean
Desertas Islands
Desertas Islands
Location in the Atlantic Ocean
Geography
LocationAtlantic Ocean
Area14.21 km2 (5.49 sq mi)
Length22.34 km (13.881 mi)
Width1.34 km (0.833 mi)
Administration
Autonomous RegionMadeira

The Desertas Islands (Portuguese: Ilhas Desertas, IPA: [ˈiʎɐʒ ðɨˈzɛɾtɐʃ], "Deserted Islands") are a small archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, part of the larger Portuguese Madeira Archipelago.

The archipelago is located off the coast of Morocco. Deserta Grande Island is located about 25 kilometres (16 mi) southeast of the eastern tip of Madeira Island, Ponta de São Lourenço.

Geography

[edit]
Aerial view of the Desertas Islands (Ilhas Desertas)

The archipelago of the Desertas Islands is a chain of three long and narrow islands that stretch over a north/south distance of 22.3 kilometres (13.9 mi). The Desertas Islands, from north to south with approximate area figures, are:

Island Area (km2) Height (m)
Chão Islet 1 98
Deserta Grande 10 442
Bugio 3 348
TOTAL 14.21 442

Administration

[edit]

Administratively, the islands are part of the Municipality of Santa Cruz in Madeira, and in the Santa Cruz civil parish.

The islands are a designated Portuguese nature reserve. A licence is needed to land there.

Natural history

[edit]
Nature reserve warden's house on Deserta Grande Island
Paul Alexander Zino

Though near the main island of Madeira, where the islands can often be seen on the horizon, the geology of the Ilhas Desertas is starkly different. The high, long, and rocky islands of the group are barren of topsoil, and the only wildlife consists of about sixteen species of birds, including eight species of seabirds, and a scarce population of feral goats, rabbits, and rodents, brought from Portugal by the mariners who first reached the rocky shores. The Deserta Grande wolf spider and Madeiran wall lizard also exist in the fragile and arid ecosystem.

The only inhabitable island, with its own water source, is Deserta Grande. This water is murky and scarce, and historic attempts to colonise the island failed due to the impracticability of agriculture.

A tiny colony of Mediterranean monk seals inhabits the beaches, and since 1990 the islands have been constituted as a nature reserve for their protection. In 1998, the colony numbered only eight; now the population is approximately forty seals. The only humans on the islands are the permanent wardens, geologists, occasional boaters, and those who work at the few research stations.

Important Bird Area

[edit]

The Desertas archipelago has been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because of its seabird colonies. These include Fea's and Bulwer's petrels, Cory's and Barolo shearwaters, band-rumped storm petrels, common terns and Caspian gulls.[1]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ilhas Desertas". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
[edit]
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