Formigas

The Formigas (Portuguese to German ants) are a group of small, uninhabited islands in the Atlantic. They belong to the Portuguese Azores and were discovered in 1431 by Gonçalo Velho Cabral. The archipelago, which extends in a north-south direction over a length of 10 km, is located in the east of the Azores, between the islands of São Miguel and Santa Maria 37 km away. It consists of eight islets, whose highest, Formigão ( in the essay of 1849 Tofiño Hermigon ), according to official figures is 10.7 meters high. Their total area is about 9,000 square meters. The two largest islands are only about 180 m long and 40 m wide. Even during the last ice age provided the Formigas is a 30 -square-mile island, but since then almost completely disappeared by the rising sea level.

To date, the Formigas are dreaded by sailors area because they extend only a few meters above the sea level; suffered many here already shipwreck. Since 1948, the islands are marked by a 19 m high lighthouse on the southernmost, only 3 m high rock, the beacon at night is even visible from Santa Maria.

The Formigas are since 1988 by a decree of the Azorean Parliament ( Regional Legislative Decree n ° 11/88/A, de 4 de Abril ) a maritime nature reserve, which is 35.42 km ². Many divers visit the surrounding, just a few meters deep shallow water area ( Banco Dollabarat ) whose rich underwater fauna is famous.

Geologic represent the Formigas represents a long extinct volcano whose basaltic base subaerisch deposited lava is partially covered by sedimentary rocks. They contain, unusual for the Azores, many fossils.

Gallery

Northern Rock of Formigas

Formigas Lighthouse