Berlengas

The Berlengas archipelago is a group of very small islands off the Portuguese coast near the city of Peniche, at 10 to 15 km. In the larger island (Berlenga Grande) there is an ancient fort and a lighthouse.Its native name was "Londobris" [ [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Periods/Roman/_Texts/Ptolemy/2/4*.htmlThe Geography of Claudius Ptolemy] ] .

Nowadays, the archipelago has no permanent population. The fort is now partially converted into a resthouse. As the archipelago has been declared a reservation area due to the local fauna (sea birds, mostly), it is only visited by scientists and, in the summer, by a small number of tourists.

Berlenga Grande (or Ilha da Berlenga) is 1500 metres per 800 metres at 85 metres high. In this small island there are beaches and several caves, its waters are very clean with barrier reefs and vibrant marine life. Part of the island was ripped off in the past, forming a separated part of the island called "Ilha Velha" (Old Island). In the summer, the island becomes filled with various sorts of flowers.

There are other groups of islets known has Estelas islets and Farilhões-Forcados islets.

Coordinates: coord|39|26|59|N|09|30|57|W|type:landmark

In popular culture

Berlenga Grande also starred in a pre-revolutionary Portuguese movie called "O Rei das Berlengas" (Portuguese for "The King of the Berlengas"), a comedy about someone who one fine day decides to become king of the said archipelago. Due to this movie, several people, tourists and residents from the nearby towns, have declared the independence of the islands, and declare themselves as king, prince or president of the Berlengas Islands. These declarations and liberation armies are nothing more than fiction intended for amusement.

References

ee also

*List of islands of Portugal