Off the northeast of Brazilian territory, there are two small groups of islands lost in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean: the Fernando de Noronha archipelago and the atoll das Rocas. These Brazilian Atlantic islands are popular places for the curious and tourists, because their fertile waters allow a real diversity of the marine ecosystem. It is also home to the largest concentration of tropical seabirds in the western Atlantic Ocean. Between a multitude of ecosystems, tidal basins and exceptional lagoon landscapes, the Brazilian Atlantic islands offer grandiose visits and unique panoramas in the world despite their small size.
Summary
- The Brazilian Atlantic islands are above all two breathtaking places
- A very dense fauna and flora
- A nevertheless fragile fauna
The Brazilian Atlantic islands are above all two breathtaking places
Two places are particularly visited on these Brazilian islands. On the one hand there is the Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park and on the other hand the Atoll das Rocas (Biological Reserve of the Atoll das Rocas). The first park is located about 340 km from the Brazilian coast. Its area is 112.70 km² and it is thanks to a submerged mountain range that majestic volcanic peaks have been formed.adding to the park magnificent panoramas. The park is partly made up of 70% of the main island of the archipelago, but also of 21 islands and islets. As for the Atoll das Rocas, this biological reserve is located 150 km west of Fernando de Noronha and its area is 362.49 km². These two protected environments have been combined into a single UNESCO World Heritage Site. In all, this brings together an area of 42,270 hectares of pure beauty .
A very dense fauna and flora
The provision of fertile waters allows a significant development of aquatic species . We can cite for example tuna, shark or scaly and green turtles. Moreover, the atoll das Rocas is the second largest breeding site of the species for the latter. Also, many species of tropical seabirds proliferate on the whole in harmony with marine mammals. We find on these islands the only insular Atlantic forests and the mangroves of all the South Atlantic.
Many curious people come to the island of Fernando de Noronha for Dolphin Bay (Baía dos Golfinhos). This bay is a unique place where the highest concentration of dolphins in the world grows . On the atoll das Rocas, at low tide, an incredible landscape takes shape: tidal pools, lagoons with a multitude of sponges, crustaceans, fish, corals and molluscs… Exceptional seascapes are offered before your eyes in both places, forming natural aquariums in unheard-of geographical reserves. Two beaches on Fernando de Noronha Island have been named the most beautiful in all of Brazil due to their unique landscapes and protections.
A nevertheless fragile fauna
The environment of these natural regions provides important places for the protection of endangered species in the South Atlantic. Threatened species of sea turtles (with scales), but also populations of endemic birds gather in these archipelagos. Thus, this produces a unique ecosystem coupled with incredible and unique landscapes in the world lost in the Atlantic Ocean.
