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The main islands of this archipelago are the visible parts of a range of submerged mountains . Consisting of 21 islands, islets and rocks of volcanic origin, the main island has an area of 7.1 square miles (18 km²), being 6.2 miles (10 km) long and 2.2 miles (3.5 km) at its maximum width. The base of this enormous volcanic formation is 2480 feet (756 m) below the surface. The main island, from which the group gets its name, makes up 91% of the total area; the islands of Rata, Sela Gineta, Cabeluda and São Jose, together with the islets of Leão and Viúva make up the rest.
The climate is tropical, with two well defined seasons: the rainy season from January to August, and the dry season for the rest of the year. The land vegetation of the islands is made up mostly of vines and bushes.
As occurs on other isolated ecosystems, the fauna of the Archipelago is as unique as it is exuberant. Among the common species on the islands, one can spot sea tortoises, dolphins, albatrosses, among many others.
Many controversies mark the archipelago's discovery. Its original name, Ilha da Quaresma ( Lent Island), it is known to have been sighted by expeditions from the years 1501, 1502 and 1503. The Viscount of Santarém, however, attributed the discovery to Gaspar de Lemos , captain of the supply ship of Pedro Alvares Cabral's fleet, sent back to Portugal with news of the discovery of Brazil. Modern historians, however, attribut the discovery of the archipelago to the 1501-1502 expedition led by Fernão de Loronha.
The first to actually describe the island was Amerigo Vespucci, who travelled with a Portuguese expedition to Brazil in the year 1503. In 1534Events May 10 Jacques Cartier explores Newfoundland while searching for the Northwest Passage. June 9 Jacques Cartier is the first European to discover the St. Lawrence River. July 7 First known exchange between Europeans and natives of the Gulf of St., the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago was invaded by the EnglishEngland is the largest, the most populous, and the most densely populated of the four " Home Nations" which make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK). Occupying the south-eastern portion of the island of Great Britain, England, and from 1556Events January 16 Abdication of Emperor Charles V. His son, Philip II becomes King of Spain, while his brother Ferdinand becomes Holy Roman Emperor January 23 The deadliest earthquake in history kills 830,000 people in Shanxi Province, China. February Tru until 1612Events January 20 Mathias becomes Holy Roman Emperor. Antonius Magirus's Koock-boeck ofte Familieren kevken-boeck is published. Popular uprising in Moscow expels Polish troops. Trial of the witches in Pendle, Lancashire is held. Births Thomas Fairfax, Eng, it was held by the FrenchThe French Republic or France ( French: Republique francaise or France is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents.. In 1628Events March 1 writs were issued in February 1628 by Charles I of England that every county in England (not just seaport towns) pay ship tax by this date August 10 The Swedish 64 gun sailing ship HMS Wasa sinks on her maiden voyage September 6 Puritans se, it was invaded by the Dutch, who were displaced two years later by a Spanish-Portuguese military expedition led by Rui Calaza Borges . The Dutch occupied the island once again in 1635, making it a hospital for its troops which occupied Northeastern Brazil. The island became known as Pavonia, in honor of Michiel de Pauw , one of the directors of the Dutch West Indies Company . It would remain under Dutch control for nearly twenty years, when it was reconquered by Portugal.
Finding it uninhabited and completely abandoned in 1736, the French East Indies Company took the island and renamed it Isle Dauphine. It was retaken one year later. The first major military outposts were set-up on the archipelago on the following years. Around 1770, the first permanent settlement, Vila dos Remédios, was founded.
As Brazil became independent, very little changed for Fernando de Noronha.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the English arrived to provide technical cooperation in telegraphy (The South American Company ). Later the French came with the French Cable and the Italians with Intalcable . In 1942, during World War II, the archipelago was made a Federal Territory, and political and ordinary prisoners were sent to the local prison. In 1988 approximately 70% of the archipelago was declared a national park, with the goal of preserving the land and sea environment.
Nowadays, Fernando de Noronha's economy depends on tourism, restricted by the limitations of its delicate ecosystem. In addition to the historical interest noted above, the archipelago has been the subject of the attention of various scientists dedicated to the study of its flora, fauna, geology, etc.
Source: http://www.fernandodenoronha.com.br/
Pernambuco Islands