Fernando de Noronha
Fernando de Noronha is an archipelago of 21 islands located about 350 kilometers off the northeast coast of Brazil. The archipelago is one of the most ecologically important places in the world, in 2001 it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Rokas Atoll. Among tourists, the archipelago is popular as a diving and surfing destination.
General Information
Every morning in Baia dos Golfinhos (Dolphin Bay) more than 1000 dolphins gather and frolic in the early sun. Sea turtles are abundant here, using the wide stretches of secluded beaches to lay their eggs.
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The main island, Ilha de Fernando de Noronha, is the only inhabited one. To prevent possible damage to nature, only 420 tourists are allowed on the island at strictly defined times. In this unspoiled land, 70% of which is occupied by a national park, there are many secluded bungalows. They are always filled with tourists and are booked long before the season starts in December-January.
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The most imposing building in Vila do Trinta is Forte dos Remedios, an ancient reminder of Portuguese occupation. Founded in 1737, the fort is very old – the ancient cannons are almost half buried in the sand, the defensive fortifications seem about to collapse. On the cobblestone streets, the interesting yellow and white Baroque church, Igreja Nossa Senhora dos Remedios, built in 1772, can be seen, as can the bright red colonial-style palace, Palacio San Miguel.
.Other islands in the archipelago are characterized by different geological formations. Meio Island, which has eroded so much that it has taken the shape of an inverted pyramid, is recognized from afar by sailors, while the neighboring island, the cliff of Sela Gineta, is just as recognizable because of its resemblance to a cowboy saddle. The island of Sha Po do Suesto is compared to a small mushroom, while Fra de is said to resemble a bell, not only in shape but also in the sound of the waves crashing against its rocky chest. Moro do Leno Island resembles a reclining sea lion, and two imposing dark volcanic islands, Dois and Irnan, are claimed by connoisseurs to resemble a woman’s breasts.
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Whatever you see in the outline of these cliffs, the image of a tropical paradise will remain in your heart forever.
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