Vila Franca Islet

Vila Franca Islet (Portuguese: Ilhéu de Vila Franca) is a vegetated uninhabited islet located off the south-central coast of the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The entire islet and surrounding waters constitute a protected nature reserve, while remaining a popular destination for swimming and cliff diving.

Vila Franca Islet
Native name:
Ilhéu de Vila Franca
The islet seen from São Miguel, with Farilhão on the left
Vila Franca Islet
Location of the islet off the coast of São Miguel
Geography
LocationAtlantic Ocean
Coordinates37°42′20″N 25°26′36″W[1]
Area0.05 km2 (0.019 sq mi)
Administration
Autonomous regionAzores
Demographics
Populationuninhabited

Geography

Vila Franca Islet is the exposed remains of a Surtseyan volcanic cone[2][3] of phreatomagmatic origin heavily eroded by the sea and seismic forces over time. It is composed mostly of basalt and palagonitic tuff, resulting in characteristic vertically-fractured rock formations resembling columns.[2] The islet contains a few underwater caves.[3]

The islet is located between 500 metres (1,600 ft) and 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) off the south-central coast of the island of São Miguel, adjacent the municipality, town, and port of Vila Franca do Campo.[2][4][5] The semicircular islet measures approximately 5 hectares (12 acres)[5] or 6 hectares (15 acres)[1] in area. The islet's highest point is approximately 62 metres (203 ft) above sea level.[6] One of the islet's most notable geological formations is the 32.5-metre (107 ft) volcanic stack called Farilhão, which is located off the islet's southern end.[3][6]

Panoramic view of the islet's central crater

The volcanic cone's crater is open to the sea and filled with water.[2][7] Known locally as Boquete,[2] this circular crater measures about 150 metres (490 ft)[5] in diameter, with a maximum water depth of approximately 20 metres (66 ft). As the opening in the crater faces north toward São Miguel, it creates a small natural harbor and sandy beach protected from wave action.[2][3] The harbor and beach are so popular for swimming that from June to October multiple daily ferries transport bathers between Vila Franca do Campo and the islet.[2][8] Due to the islet's protected status, only 400 total visitors may land there per day.[1]

Biome

Vila Franca Islet functions as a breeding ground for various marine bird species including Bulwer's petrel, Cory's shearwater, little egret, and sooty tern.[1][3][9] Marine birds visiting the islet include band-rumped storm petrel, common tern, Fea's petrel, little shearwater, and roseate tern.[1][5][6][10] In recognition of the islet's role as a marine bird habitat, in 1983 the regional Legislative Assembly of the Azores decreed the islet and surrounding waters up to 30 metres (98 ft) deep a nature reserve.[3][7] In 2004 the Legislative Assembly increased the area of protected waters to 350 metres (1,150 ft) all around the islet's coastline and further restricted human activities on the islet, including camping and fishing.[11] Since 2002 the conservation organization BirdLife International has recognized the islet as an Important Bird Area.[9] Despite governmental protection, human visitors occasionally destroy nest sites.[6]

Endemic Azorean flowering plants growing on the islet include Azorean carrot (Daucus carota azoricus), Azorean firetree (Myrica faya), Azorean forget-me-not (Myosotis azorica), Azorean heather (Erica azorica), Azorean spurge or erva-leiteira (Euphorbia azorica), bracel-da-rocha fescue grass (Festuca petraea), Lotus azoricus, Pericallis malvifolia, and vidália (Azorina vidalii).[1][6][9] A single exemplar of the naturalized dragon tree species Dracaena draco stands watch over the island.[1] The native plants' continued health and presence are threatened by several invasive plant species, including the cane grass Arundo donax, elmleaf blackberry, French tamarisk, the myrtle tree Metrosideros excelsa, and the tree Pittosporum undulatum.[3][5][6]

The central lagoon is well-suited for snorkeling and scuba diving. Fish and other aquatic animals present in the area include greater amberjack, groupers, moray eels, nudibranchs, parrotfish, sea urchins, starfish, and stingrays.[3]

Though the islet only supports a thin layer of soil, historically the islet's highest portions were used for viticulture.[3][4] Abandoned vineyards remain noticeable.[6]

History

Vila Franca Islet was discovered no later than 1537—the year written documents first attest to its existence—as early settlers of São Miguel moved west from their original settlements.[5] In the past the islet accommodated various human activities and uses, including a military fort, a port, vineyards, and a whale watch.[5] Historically the eastern part of the islet was used for butchering dolphins, and is therefore known locally as the Baixa da Cozinha ("kitchen reef").[3][6]

Until 1982 one family privately owned the islet. This family holidayed and maintained vineyards on the islet, producing wine for local consumption.[3] Apparently they were responsible for bringing invasive species to the islet, including Arundo donax which they used as hedges.[3][6]

Cliff diving

Vila Franca Islet is a regular stop on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series circuit.[2][3][4] Events for the world series have taken place at Vila Franca Islet nine times: in 2010 and once every year from 2012 to 2019. A tenth event was scheduled for 6 September 2020,[12] but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]

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References
  1. Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Ambiente (Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Environment of the Azores (2011). "Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo Protected Area for the Management of Habitat or Species". parquesnaturais.azores.gov.pt (in English and Portuguese). Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  2. Turismo de Portugal (Tourism of Portugal) (2011). "Islet of Vila Franca do Campo". visitportugal.com. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  3. Mulder, Joyce (28 October 2017). "The Ilhéu of Vila Franca do Campo". Terra Azul Azores Whale Watching. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  4. Red Bull (26 July 2014). "Azores, S. Miguel - Red Bull Cliff Diving". Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  5. Soares, John (25 April 2019). "Ilhéu da Vila Franca". ... Histórias - e outras coisas ... (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  6. Rodrigues, Pedro; Micael, Joana; Rodrigo, Roshan K.; Cunha, Regina T. (September 2009). "A CONSERVATIONAL APPROACH ON THE SEABIRD POPULATIONS OF ILHÉU DE VILA FRANCA DO CAMPO, AZORES, PORTUGAL" (PDF). Açoreana. Supplement 6: 217–225. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  7. Legislative Assembly of the Azores (16 February 1983). "Decreto Regulamentar Regional no. 13/83/A" (PDF) (in Portuguese). p. 804. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  8. Clube Naval Vila Franca do Campo (CNVFC) (2019). "Cruzeiro do Ilhéu - Online Tickets" (in English and Portuguese). Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  9. BirdLife International (2020). "Ilhéu da Vila". BirdLife Data Zone (in English and Portuguese). Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  10. "Viagens de barco ao Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo recomeçaram". Correio dos Açores (in Portuguese) (Number 26, 503). 1991. p. 4.
  11. Legislative Assembly of the Azores. "Decreto Regional Legislativo no. 22/2004/A" (PDF) (in Portuguese). pp. 3506–3509. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  12. "Red Bull Cliff Diving to return to Vila Franca islet in the Azores". O Jornal (The Herald News). 15 January 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  13. Red Bull (21 April 2020). "2020 World Series Cancelled". Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. Retrieved 25 June 2020.

Further reading
  • Abranches, João António Garcia de (1834). Memória Concernente à Construção da Doca do Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo na Ilha de São Miguel (Memory Concerning the Construction of the Dock at the Islet of Vila Franca do Campo in the Island of São Miguel) (in Portuguese). Ponta Delgada, Azores.
  • Abranches, João António Garcia de (1841). História do Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo da Ilha de São Miguel (History of the Islet of Vila Franca do Campo in the Island of São Miguel) (in Portuguese). Ponta Delgada, Azores.
  • Ferreira, Manuel (1989). Penhascos Dourados - O Ilhéu da Vila (Golden Cliffs - The Islet of Vila Franca) (in Portuguese). Ponta Delgada, Azores: Câmara Municipal de Vila Franca do Campo.
  • Martins, António M. de Frias (2004). O Anel da Princesa (The Princess's Ring) (in Portuguese). Lisbon: Intermezzo-Audiovisuais, Lda. ISBN 972-98950-3-1.
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