Monchique Islet
Encyclopedia
The Monchique Islet or Ilhéu de Monchique is a small island, west of the village of Fajã Grande
, Flores Island, in the western part of the Portuguese Azores
. It lies just over a mile north-northwest of Ponta de Fenais and is considered the westernmost point of Europe
. It functioned as an astronomical (celestial
) navigational guide and reference mark for mariners, who calibrated their navigational equipment referencing the islet on long Atlantic crossings.
The islet is protected for its rich biodiversity
; ninety-six species of flora and fauna have been identified congregating on or in the waters of the islet, including the species of Dictyota dichotoma
, Patella aspera ulyssiponensis, Megabalanus sp. Coris and julis
.
Approachable only by boat, the bay, which has water depth of about 43 metres, provides opportunities for scuba diving
during the day in the summer.
The islet is actually located on the North American plate
between the two westernmost Azorean islands
of Flores and Corvo
. Historically, its unique geological formation attracted visitors travelling between Europe and America, intersecting here on their way to the ports of Lajes
or Santa Cruz
ports of Flores Island.
The islet is a solid monolith of black basaltic rock formation seen as vertical walls, remnants of a coastal volcanic cone, eroded by ocean forces, but extending steeply to a height of 110 feet (33.5 m) above sea level. It was formed from irregular lava flows that have produced many submarine cavities along the islet's relief. San and boulders are scattered all over the island. The islet is an elevated area that includes two rock outcroppings above the water's surface.
A deep channel separates the Monchique Islet from the shoreline, with only a rock outcrop called the Baxio Raza separating it from the shore. Since the channel is between 45 and 55 metres depth (43 metres has also been mentioned in other references), ships were able to anchor in the bay. Historically, the steep rock slopes of the islet and shoreline served as shelter from strong offshore gales. The deep channel, through which ships may navigate with care (while still avoiding some surface rocks) is considered safe for navigation. The Baxia Rasa rock formation extends over a length of 0.4 miles and its is a rough terrain situated to the west of Ponta de Fenais.
Visits to Flores are considered ideal in spring (around June) or early summer (around July) when the weather is good and vegetation is green and flowers bloom. The nearest airport to the islet is Flores Airport
in Santa Cruz das Flores
, located on the other side of the island. Locally, the islet is only accessible by boat.
, an iridescent brown algae
, while numerous faunal species of gastropods Patella ulyssiponensis (locally referred to as lapas or wild limpets) and Megabalanus
(a species of barnacle), as well as Coris julis (Mediterranean rainbow wrasse
). Shellfish species, including ulyssiponensis Patella aspera and Megabalanus sp. (Barnacles) are also found in the inner straits, in addition to plenty of kingfish.
Measures to conserve the islet along with the Flores island have been initiated. It currently falls under the Plano do Ordenamento da Orla Costeira (POOC) Flores, which identifies the islet as part of an area of conservation and preservation both for ecological and tourist requirements. The islet itself is identified as vulnerable and designated as areas for terrestrial and marine species protection, limiting the use and access to the islet and surrounding waters.
as the underwater visibility is good in the warm, clear and clean waters of the ocean. There is an advisory which states diving in these waters should be done only during day time as taking precautionary measure to avoid any surprises from the currents in the sea flows. Kayak
ers can travel to Monchique Islet from Flores Island.
Fajã Grande
Fajã Grande is a rural civil parish in the municipality of Lajes das Flores in the archipelago of the Azores. In the most recent census reported, the parish had 225 inhabitants in an area of approximately 12.5 km²; its density is 17.9/km²...
, Flores Island, in the western part of the Portuguese Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
. It lies just over a mile north-northwest of Ponta de Fenais and is considered the westernmost point of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It functioned as an astronomical (celestial
Celestial coordinate system
In astronomy, a celestial coordinate system is a coordinate system for mapping positions on the celestial sphere.There are different celestial coordinate systems each using a system of spherical coordinates projected on the celestial sphere, in analogy to the geographic coordinate system used on...
) navigational guide and reference mark for mariners, who calibrated their navigational equipment referencing the islet on long Atlantic crossings.
The islet is protected for its rich biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
; ninety-six species of flora and fauna have been identified congregating on or in the waters of the islet, including the species of Dictyota dichotoma
Dictyotales
Dictyotales is a large order in the brown algae . Members of this order generally prefer warmer waters than other brown algae. One genus in this order is calcareous, Padina, the only calcareous member of this phylum....
, Patella aspera ulyssiponensis, Megabalanus sp. Coris and julis
Julis
Julis is a Druze village and local council in the Northern District of Israel.-Etymology:According to local legend, the name is derived from "Julius," the name of a Roman commander who camped in the area...
.
Approachable only by boat, the bay, which has water depth of about 43 metres, provides opportunities for scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
during the day in the summer.
Geography
The islet is located more than a mile to the north-northwest of the island of Flores, in a bay between Ponta de Fenais (Point Fanaes or Fanais Port) and Faja Grande.The islet is actually located on the North American plate
North American Plate
The North American Plate is a tectonic plate covering most of North America, Greenland, Cuba, Bahamas, and parts of Siberia, Japan and Iceland. It extends eastward to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and westward to the Chersky Range in eastern Siberia. The plate includes both continental and oceanic crust...
between the two westernmost Azorean islands
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
of Flores and Corvo
Corvo Island
Corvo Island , literally the Island of the Crow, is the smallest and the northernmost island of the Azores archipelago and the northernmost in Macaronesia, with a population of approximately 468 inhabitants constituting the smallest single municipality in Azores and in Portugal.-History:A small...
. Historically, its unique geological formation attracted visitors travelling between Europe and America, intersecting here on their way to the ports of Lajes
Lajes das Flores
Lajes das Flores is municipality in the western part of the Azores; it includes the southern portion of the island of Flores and is encircled almost entirely by the Atlantic Ocean except for the north, where it is bordered by Santa Cruz das Flores. It has a population of 1,491 inhabitants and a...
or Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz das Flores
Santa Cruz das Flores is a municipality in Portugal, located across from the island of Corvo on the island of Flores, in the western part of the autonomous region of Azores. With an area of 70.9 km² its approximately 2,500 inhabitants occupy the northern half of the island...
ports of Flores Island.
The islet is a solid monolith of black basaltic rock formation seen as vertical walls, remnants of a coastal volcanic cone, eroded by ocean forces, but extending steeply to a height of 110 feet (33.5 m) above sea level. It was formed from irregular lava flows that have produced many submarine cavities along the islet's relief. San and boulders are scattered all over the island. The islet is an elevated area that includes two rock outcroppings above the water's surface.
A deep channel separates the Monchique Islet from the shoreline, with only a rock outcrop called the Baxio Raza separating it from the shore. Since the channel is between 45 and 55 metres depth (43 metres has also been mentioned in other references), ships were able to anchor in the bay. Historically, the steep rock slopes of the islet and shoreline served as shelter from strong offshore gales. The deep channel, through which ships may navigate with care (while still avoiding some surface rocks) is considered safe for navigation. The Baxia Rasa rock formation extends over a length of 0.4 miles and its is a rough terrain situated to the west of Ponta de Fenais.
Visits to Flores are considered ideal in spring (around June) or early summer (around July) when the weather is good and vegetation is green and flowers bloom. The nearest airport to the islet is Flores Airport
Flores Airport
Flores Airport is a regional airport on the island of Flores in the Portuguese Azores. It is located along the eastern coast, bisecting the regional capital of Santa Cruz das Flores into two halves: from the Porto of São Pedro the runway is aligned north-south to the area around Porto dos Poços...
in Santa Cruz das Flores
Santa Cruz das Flores (parish)
Santa Cruz das Flores is a civil parish in the municipality of the same name, corresponding to an area of 39,55 km² and population of 1810 inhabitants . It is the largest population center in the Western Group of Portuguese Azores, concentrating all governmental and judicial services of the...
, located on the other side of the island. Locally, the islet is only accessible by boat.
Biome
The maximum depth of water in the coastal channel is40 metres (131.2 ft) and its water temperature varies in the range 17–23 °C (62.6–73.4 F). The islet is the centre of a region of great biodiversity, with 96 identified species, with a Margalef index of 11.0 biodiversity. The flora along its flanks are dominated by Dictyota dichotomaDictyotales
Dictyotales is a large order in the brown algae . Members of this order generally prefer warmer waters than other brown algae. One genus in this order is calcareous, Padina, the only calcareous member of this phylum....
, an iridescent brown algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
, while numerous faunal species of gastropods Patella ulyssiponensis (locally referred to as lapas or wild limpets) and Megabalanus
Megabalanus
Megabalanus is a genus of barnacle. It grows to in length, and inhabits the lower zone.-Morphology:Megabalanus is an acorn barnacle comprising an organism dwelling in a calcium carbonate shell consisting of five plates...
(a species of barnacle), as well as Coris julis (Mediterranean rainbow wrasse
Mediterranean rainbow wrasse
The Mediterranean rainbow wrasse is a fish in the family Labridae. It can be found in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Atlantic Ocean, from the English Channel to Central Africa....
). Shellfish species, including ulyssiponensis Patella aspera and Megabalanus sp. (Barnacles) are also found in the inner straits, in addition to plenty of kingfish.
Measures to conserve the islet along with the Flores island have been initiated. It currently falls under the Plano do Ordenamento da Orla Costeira (POOC) Flores, which identifies the islet as part of an area of conservation and preservation both for ecological and tourist requirements. The islet itself is identified as vulnerable and designated as areas for terrestrial and marine species protection, limiting the use and access to the islet and surrounding waters.
Tourism
The water around the coast is suitable for scuba divingScuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
as the underwater visibility is good in the warm, clear and clean waters of the ocean. There is an advisory which states diving in these waters should be done only during day time as taking precautionary measure to avoid any surprises from the currents in the sea flows. Kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
ers can travel to Monchique Islet from Flores Island.