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🌿 Nature

Ilhéu de Cima

  • 🏅 Network of marine protected areas (2008)

The nearest of the islets, 380 m off the south-eastern tip; also called Ilhéu do Farol or dos Dragoeiros. A 32 ha rock rising to 111 m, it carries the lighthouse lit in May 1901, the first seen by ships arriving from Europe. Two geosites: Pedra do Sol, a mega pillow lava with radial jointing among submarine flows, 12-to-16-million-year-old fossil limestones and coral reefs; and Cabeço das Laranjas, a heap of fossil calcareous algae — calcareous red algae 15 to 14 million years old — that look like oranges. Colonies of Cory's shearwaters and Bulwer's petrels, exclusive snails Hystricella turricula and Idiomela subplicata; its rabbits were eradicated by the LIFE project. Natura 2000 PTPOR0001, a no-entry zone: visits only with IFCN authorisation — admire it from Portela or by boat.

  • 1901 lighthouse
  • Fossil fossil calcareous algae
  • Seabirds
  • Natura 2000
  • Restricted access
Price
Free (from the shore)
Crowds
Quiet
GPS
33.05519, -16.28312
🧭 How to get there
The place stands 2,577 m from the sítio of Vila Baleira, the nearest one (Porto Santo).
📖 History and nature
380 m off the coast, its lighthouse was the first seen by ships arriving from Europe. On its flanks, a giant pillow lava and balls of fossil calcareous algae, 14 to 15 million years old, that look like oranges.
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Good to know about Ilhéu de Cima1

  • Ilhéu de Cima — 32 ha · 111 m · lighthouse in service since May 1901

    380 m off the coast, its lighthouse was the first seen by ships arriving from Europe. On its flanks, a giant pillow lava and balls of fossil calcareous algae, 14 to 15 million years old, that look like oranges.

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