Desertas Islands

The Deserted Islands ( Portuguese for deserted islands ) are a ( geopolitical ) to Portugal belonging archipelago, consisting of the Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande and Bugio. The small islands belong to Madeira and to the municipality of Santa Cruz, in the same county. The Madeira Islands are clearly visible from the south east coast. The archipelago covers a total area of 14.21 km ² and reaches a maximum height of 500 m.

Islands

The individual islands from north to south:

Population

Due to water shortage, drought and remoteness, the islands are uninhabited.

Research stations

On Deserta Grande, the largest of the islands, there is a small biological research station. Visitors need to enter the islands a special permit, which is granted, however, only researchers.

Plant

One type exists endemic only on Deserta Grande ( Sinapidendron sempervivifolium Menezes ( Brassicaceae) ), a further 34 species of higher plants of the Deserted Islands are endemic proven for the island of Madeira.

Wildlife and conservation

Since 1990, the Deserted Islands are nature reserves, since 1995 they are a nature reserve. The access restriction is intended solely for the protection of the monk seal stock, which includes about 25 individuals. Since the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) has become one of the rarest mammals and only about 350 copies exist worldwide, the protection of this population is particularly important.

In addition, only lives on Deserta Grande a very rare spider, called Deserta tarantula ( Hogna ingens ) with up to eight inches of length. She lives mainly in caves and crevices of the volcano island.

There are also in the Desertas the Kanarengirlitz ( Serinus canaria ), the wild form of the canary, and the home only a few Atlantic islands Canaries Pipit ( Anthus berthelothi berthelothi, named after Sabin Berthelot ).