Faraglioni

The Faraglioni in the Mediterranean off the coasts of the Italian peninsula are cone - to needle-shaped rock formations. The best known are probably the four Faraglioni off the island of Capri in the Bay of Naples, but such rocks are also found elsewhere west and east of Italy. You can choose from limestone - be of volcanic material or - as of Capri.

Name

The Italian word " Faraglioni " derives from the Greek word " pharos " ( German: Beacon ) ago. In ancient times, exposed rocks were often lit by fire to facilitate seafarers orientation and navigation.

The four Faraglioni of Capri

The four Faraglioni of Capri ( Lage40.54075414.252924 ) lying in the sea just off the southeast tip of the island.

Geography

Three of rocks lined up one behind the other to the south:

• Called the " Faraglione di terra ", also called " Stella" ( German: Faraglione towards the land or star ), with 109 m height of the largest; its northern boundary begins just 20 meters from the island coast.

• In 100 m distance of the " Faraglione di mezzo" follows ( German: Faraglione in the middle). It is 81 m high and has at sea level a natural tunnel of 60 m length, that can be traversed with smaller boats.

• The " Faraglione di fuori " or " Scopolo " ( German: outer Faraglione or simply cliff ) in the far south is separated from the middle rock only by 20 m of water and has a height of 104 m.

Approximately 200 m east of the largest Faraglione, toward the " Bocca Piccola ," the little ones mouth of the Gulf of Naples, rises a fourth, smaller rocks from the sea, the " Scoglio del Monacone " ( German: Hermit cliff because of the location away of the triad).

Tourism

In addition to the Blue Grotto are the major attraction for visitors to the island of Capri, the Faraglioni four. The island administration plans to let the rock spotlight artificially on moonless nights.

Biology

On the four Faraglioni a rare subspecies is native lizards, the Lucertola Azzurra ( German: Blue Lizard ). It bears this name because their body surface has an intense blue pigmentation that applies as an adaptation to the rocky ground and camouflage against animal predators, primarily birds of prey used. Before, the science of this subspecies is endemic in Capri, in the meantime, however, occurrences are known on the Faraglioni on the coast of Sicily.

Other Faraglioni

Other similarly shaped rocks are, for example, as mentioned, in Sicily, or in front of the islands of Ponza and Lipari and in the Baia dei Mergoli before the Gargano, the " spur " of the Italian peninsula.

Faraglione off the island of Ponza

Faraglioni off the island of Lipari

Faraglione before the Gargano