The Abrolhos Archipelago (Portuguese: Arquipélago de Abrolhos) are a group of 5 small islands with coral reefs off the southern coast of Bahia state in the northeast of Brazil, between 17º25’—18º09’ S and 38º33’—39º05’ W. Caravelas is the nearest town.[3] Their name comes from the Portuguese: abrolho ("Abre Olhos" meaning: Open your eyes),[4] a rock awash or submerged sandbank that is a danger to ships. There is a conspicuous shipwreck in the group, SS Rosalinda.[5]
Native name: Arquipélago de Abrolhos | |
|---|---|
 Siriba Island | |
  Abrolhos Archipelago  Abrolhos Archipelago | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | 17°57′46.6″S 38°42′12.3″W / 17.962944°S 38.703417°W |
| Archipelago | Arquipélago de Abrolhos |
| Total islands | 5 |
| Major islands | Santa Bárbara |
| Area | 50.0 km2 (19.3 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
Brazil | |
| Region | Northeast |
| State | Bahia |
| Administration | 1st Naval District of the Brazilian Navy |
| Demographics | |
| Population | uninhabited |
| Additional information | |
| Official website | Abrolhos website |
| Abrolhos Lighthouse | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 17°57′53″S 38°41′39″W / 17.964737°S 38.694086°W |
| Constructed | 1861 |
| Foundation | concrete base |
| Construction | cast iron tower |
| Height | 22 feet (6.7 m) |
| Shape | cylindrical tower with double balcony and lantern |
| Markings | white and black horizontal bands tower |
| Racon | Q  |
| Focal height | 60 metres (200 ft) |
| Lens | two meso-radial lenses |
| Range | 51 nautical miles (94 km; 59 mi)[1] |
| Characteristic | Fl W 6s. |
| Brazil no. | BR-1848[2] |
History
editThese islets were surveyed by Baron Roussin. As part of the instructions for the second survey voyage of HMS Beagle, the Admiralty noted "the great importance of knowing the true position of the Abrolhos Banks, and the certainty that they extend much further out than the limits assigned to them by Baron Roussin", and asked Captain Robert FitzRoy to take soundings and establish the position of the reefs.[6] The work was carried out from 27 to 30 March 1832, giving Charles Darwin the opportunity to examine the wildlife and geology of the islands.[7]
Known to the Royal Navy in the First World War as the Abrolhos Rocks, the area was used as a refuelling point (coal) during Doveton Sturdee's operations against the German cruisers of Admiral Von Spee in late 1914. This operation ended with the Battle of the Falklands and the subsequent sinking of the only survivor, SMS Dresden.[citation needed]
Features
editIslands
edit- Ilha de Santa Bárbara, the largest island. There is a Brazilian Navy military outpost and a lighthouse.
- Ilha Siriba, the only island open to visitors
- Ilha Redonda
- Ilha Guarita
- Ilha Sueste
Submerged banks
edit- Parcel dos Abrolhos, a large submerged reef extending from north to south east of the archipelago. Located 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) to the east of Santa Barbara Island, its limits are not well defined.[8]
- Parcel das Paredes, located to the northwest of the archipelago and the largest feature of the wider Abrolhos.[9]
- Sebastiao Gomes Reef, Coroa Vermelha Reef and Viçosa Reef, located to the southwest of the Parcel das Paredes.
- Timbebas Reef, located to the north near the coast.
Wildlife
editThe extensive reefs of the island group are an area of rich marine fauna. The uninhabited islets are a breeding ground for pelagic birds.[10]
The Abrolhos Marine National Park (Portuguese: Parque Nacional Marinho dos Abrolhos) is a Marine Park located in the Abrolhos Archipelago since 1983. It is strictly forbidden to disembark on Ilha Guarita and Ilha Suest.[11]
Gallery
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See also
editNotes
edit- ^ List of Lights, Pub. 110: Greenland, The East Coasts of North and South America (Excluding Continental U.S.A. Except the East Coast of Florida) and the West Indies (PDF). List of Lights. United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
- ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of Brazil: Bahia". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- ^ O Arquipélago dos Abrolhos Archived 2011-09-10 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Daehnhardt, Rainer. (1998) Segredos de História Luso-Alemã, (Portuguese/German), Publicações Quipu, p. 77
- ^ "SS Rosalinda [+1955]". www.wrecksite.eu. The Wrecksite. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ FitzRoy 1839, pp. 24–26
- ^ Keynes 2001, pp. 48–61.
- ^ Sailing Directions (enroute) East Coast of South America (15 ed.). National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. 2017. p. 97.
- ^ Coral community structure and sedimentation at different distances from the coast of the Abrolhos Bank, Brazil, Brazilian Journal of Oceanography, ISSN 1982-436X, vol.59 no.2, São Paulo 2011
- ^ Parque Nacional Marinho dos Abrolhos[permanent dead link]
- ^ Brazil Govt. - Parque Nacional Marinho dos Abrolhos
- ^ "Baleia jubarte". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
References
edit- FitzRoy, Robert (1839), Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle between the years 1826 and 1836, describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagle's circumnavigation of the globe. Proceedings of the second expedition, 1831-36, under the command of Captain Robert Fitz-Roy, R.N., vol. II, London: Henry Colburn, retrieved 2011-12-31
- Keynes, Richard (2001), Charles Darwin's Beagle Diary, Cambridge University Press, retrieved 2011-12-31
External links
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