Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

Wonder: Fernando de Noronha
Country: Brazil
Region: Pernambuco
Visitable: Yes
About:
Fernando de Noronha is a beautiful archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean, consisting of 21 islands of volcanic origin.

Fernando de Noronha is located 545 km off the coast of Recife in the Atlantic Ocean; this beautiful and peaceful island is part of a volcanic archipelago of 21 islands which lie 345km off the northeast coast of Brazil, only two of them are inhabited; its area is 18.4 km² and its largest island has an area of 16,2 km2.

Fernando de Noronha, a piece of paradise on Earth, is administered by the State of Pernambuco. The islands are surrounded by breath taking beaches. Altogether, there are 16 beaches in the archipelago, with crystalline waters and an exuberance of corals, dolphins, lobsters, sponges, tuna, shark, turtle, marine mammals, marine plants and colorful tropical fish, as well as wonderfully preserved beaches and virtually no pollution.

Also the islands are home to the largest concentration of tropical seabirds in the Western Atlantic. Baia de Golfinhos has an exceptional population of resident dolphin and at low tide the Rocas Atoll provides a spectacular seascape of lagoons and tidal pools crowded with fish.

Brazilian surfers come to ride the 2 meter waves (sometimes 5 meters) on the sandy beaches facing Brazil´s Atlantic coast. The best surf beaches are Cacimba do Padre, Bode, Boldró, Conceição, and Meio. Riding, mountain biking and walking to some of the remoter beaches are also popular.

Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco State

The climate is tropical, with two well defined seasons: the rainy season from January to August, and the dry season for the rest of the year. The average temperature is 28°C, with a refreshing rainy season from February to July. The best time for diving is from April to November, when the waters are crystal clear and the surfing season runs from December to March.

There are interesting natural rock sculptures at the Baía dos Porcos beach, a waterfall at Praia do Sancho during the rainy season and a heavenly natural swimming pool among the rocks at Praia do Atalaia. The Morro do Pico is the highest point on the island at 321 meters and offers a splendid view of the archipelago, especially at sunset.

The archipelago offer good infrastructure to service tourists: bank agency, police station, post office, tourism information office, hospital, Internet access, military police forces, a port, weather information, hotels and inns.

The tourism is developed in a sustainable manner, offering the opportunity for a balanced encounter between men and nature in one of the most important ecological sanctuaries, a paradise for divers, surfers and all nature lovers of the world.

HISTORY
There are a few versions about the discovering of the island; the most accepted version is that Italian navigator Américo Vespúcio came across Noronha in 1503, when, at service of the Portuguese King, he commanded a fleet which explored the Brazilian coast.

Fernando de Noronha Sunset

The Portuguese took control of the islands and built a fort (Forte dos Remedios) and church which remains of can still be seen. The island was temporarily occupied by the Dutch in the 17th century and by the French in the 18th century.

In the 19th century, during the Military Period, the island was used to isolate political prisoners (the most famous of which was Miguel Arraes, ex-governor of the State of Pernambuco); during this period, the forests were cut down, to prevent prisoners from using the trees to build boats and escape.

In 1942, Noronha became Federal Territory (an area administered by the Federal Government). After the Federal Constitution of 1988, Noronha was turned into a Distric of the State of Pernambuco; the Governor of Pernambuco appoints a manager to Noronha.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, the islands are considered key to the protection of biodiversity and endangered species in the Southern Atlantic. They are home to the largest concentration of tropical seabirds in the Western Atlantic and its Baia dos Golfinhos has more resident dolphins than anywhere else in the world.

This unspoiled island was declared a Marine National Park in 1988 and is now protected by IBAMA (the Brazilian Institute for the Environment). To preserve the unspoiled environment, only 420 tourists are allowed on the island at any one time, guaranteeing empty beaches and tranquility for the visitor at all times. All buildings are rigorously controlled by IBAMA, fishing is also illegal, so it is difficult to find fresh seafood.