NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Fernando de Noronha

Fernando de Noronha is an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, around 220 miles (354 km) offshore from the Brazilian coast. It is a special municipality (distrito estatal) of the Brazilian state of Pernambuco. The position is 03°54′S 32°25′W. Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 839 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 839 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Image File history File links Orthographic_projection_centred_over_Fernando_de_Noronha. ... Image File history File links Orthographic_projection_centred_over_Fernando_de_Noronha. ... An archipelago is a landform which consists of a chain or cluster of islands. ... A municipality or general-purpose district (compare with: special-purpose district) is an administrative local area generally composed of a clearly defined territory and commonly referring to a city, town, or village government. ... A state is an organized political community, occupying a territory, and possessing internal and external sovereignty, that enforces a monopoly on the use of force. ... Flag of Pernambuco See other Brazilian States Capital Recife Largest City Recife Area 98,281 kmÂ² Population - Total - Density 7,918,344 80. ...

Geography

The main islands of this archipelago are the visible parts of a range of submerged mountains. Consisting of 21 islands, islets and rocks of volcanic origin, the main island has an area of 7.1 square miles (18 km²), being 6.2 miles (10 km) long and 2.2 miles (3.5 km) at its maximum width. The base of this enormous volcanic formation is 2480 feet (756 m) below the surface. The main island, from which the group gets its name, makes up 91% of the total area; the islands of Rata, Sela Gineta, Cabeluda and São Jose, together with the islets of Leão and Viúva make up the rest.

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. Unfortunately, the original land vegetation of the islands has been cut down, and nowadays is made up mostly of vines and bushes.

The main attraction is the maritime flora and fauna; one can spot sea tortoises, dolphins, albatrosses, among many others.

Biodiversity

The islands have two endemic birds — the Noronha Elaenia Elaenia ridleyana and the Noronha Vireo Vireo gracilirostris. Both are present on the main island; Noronha Vireo is also present on Ilha Rata. In addition there is an endemic race of Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata noronha. This article is a parent page for a series of articles providing information about endemism among birds in the Worlds various zoogeographic zones. ... Binomial name Zenaida auriculata (Des Murs, 1847) The Eared Dove, Zenaida auriculata, is a New World tropical dove. ...

History

Many controversies mark the archipelago's discovery. From its original name, Ilha da Quaresma (Lent Island), it was sighted by expeditions in the years 1501, 1502 and 1503. The Viscount of Santarém, however, attributed the discovery to Gaspar de Lemos, captain of the supply ship of Pedro Álvares Cabral's fleet, sent back to Portugal with news of the discovery of Brazil. Modern historians, however, credit the 1501-1502 expedition led by Fernão de Noronha with the discovery of the archipelago. In Western Christianity, Lent is the period from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. ... 1501 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1502 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1503 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A viscount is a member of the European nobility, especially, as in the British peerage, ranking above a baron, below a (British) earl or (his continental equivalent) count. ... Coat of Arms SantarÃ©m is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 560. ... Gaspar de Lemos (15th century), Portuguese explorer that was captain of the supply ship of Pedro Ãlvares Cabrals fleet that discovered Brazil. ... Pedro Ãlvares Cabral Pedro Ãlvares Cabral Pedro Ãlvares Cabral (c. ... FernÃ£o de Noronha (15th century/16th century), Portuguese explorer, also know as Fernando de Noronha or even FernÃ£o de Loronha. ...

The first to actually describe the island was Amerigo Vespucci, who travelled with a Portuguese expedition to Brazil in the year 1503. In 1534, the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago was invaded by the English, and from 1556 until 1612, it was held by the French. In 1628, it was occupied by the Dutch, who were displaced two years later by a Spanish-Portuguese military expedition led by Rui Calaza Borges. The Dutch occupied the island once again in 1635, making it a hospital for their troops which occupied Northeastern Brazil (the Brazilian coast between Rio Sao Francisco and Maranhao). The island became known as Pavonia, in honor of Michiel de Pauw, one of the directors of the Dutch West Indies Company. It would remain under Dutch control for nearly twenty years, when it was reconquered by Portugal. For the Italian ship named after Vespucci, see Amerigo Vespucci (ship). ... Events February 27 - Group of Anabaptists of Jan Matthys seize MÃ¼nster and declare it The New Jerusalem - they begin to exile dissenters and forcible baptize all others May 10 - Jacques Cartier explores Newfoundland while searching for the Northwest Passage. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the United Kingdom (light green), with the Republic of Ireland (blue) to its west Languages English Capital London Largest city London Area â€“ Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 kmÂ² Population â€“mid-2004... Events January 16 - Abdication of Emperor Charles V. His son, Philip II becomes King of Spain, while his brother Ferdinand becomes Holy Roman Emperor January 23 - The Shaanxi earthquake, the deadliest earthquake in history, occurs with its epicenter in Shaanxi province, China. ... Events January 20 - Mathias becomes Holy Roman Emperor. ... Events March 1 - writs were issued in February 1628 by Charles I of England that every county in England (not just seaport towns) pay ship tax by this date. ... Events February 10 - The AcadÃ©mie franÃ§aise in Paris is expanded to become a national academy for the artistic elite. ...

Finding it uninhabited and completely abandoned in 1736, the French East Indies Company took the island and renamed it Isle Dauphine. Only from 1737 on, after the expulsion of the French, Fernando de Noronha was definitively occupied by Portugal. This time it was decided to fortify the island. For this purpose, ten forts were built in all strategic points where a possibility of disembarkation existed; nine in the main island and one in the Ilha de São José situated in front of the Saint Anthony harbour. The forts were connected by a network of stone roads. This defence system was planned by the Portuguese militar engineer Diogo da Sylveira Vellozo. Around 1770, the first permanent settlement, Vila dos Remédios, was founded. The village was divided in two units (pátios); in the superior one were the administrative buildings, in the lower one the church and the associated religious buildings. Events January 26 - Stanislaus I of Poland abdicates his throne. ... 1770 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

At the beginning of the 20th century, the English arrived to provide technical cooperation in telegraphy (The South American Company). Later the French came with the French Cable and the Italians with Intalcable. In 1942, during World War II, the archipelago was made a Federal Territory that also included Rocas Atoll and Saint Peter and Paul Rocks, and political and ordinary prisoners were sent to the local prison. In 1988 approximately 70% of the archipelago was declared a maritime national park, with the goal of preserving the land and sea environment. On October 5, 1988, the Federal Territory was dissolved and added to the state of Pernambuco (except Rocas Atoll, which was added to the state of Rio Grande do Norte). (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... It has been suggested that Electrical telegraph be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the year. ... Combatants Allies: United Kingdom, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, Canada, China, India, Australia, Poland, New Zealand, South Africa, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million... Wilayah Persekutuan is the Malay term for Federal Territory. ... Rocas Atoll ( Atol das Rocas) is an atoll in the Atlantic Ocean at location 03Â°52â€²S 33Â°49â€²W. It is part of Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil. ... The Saint Peter and Paul Rocks lie near the middle of the Atlantic Narrows. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales A national park is a reserve of land, usually owned by a national government, protected from most human development and pollution. ... October 5 is the 278th day of the year (279th in Leap years). ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Flag of Pernambuco See other Brazilian States Capital Recife Largest City Recife Area 98,281 kmÂ² Population - Total - Density 7,918,344 80. ... Flag of Rio Grande do Norte See other Brazilian States Capital Natal Largest City Natal Area 53,015 kmÂ² Population - Total - Density 2,770,730 52. ...

Nowadays, Fernando de Noronha's economy depends on tourism, restricted by the limitations of its delicate ecosystem. In addition to the historical interest noted above, the archipelago has been the subject of the attention of various scientists dedicated to the study of its flora, fauna, geology, etc. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 713 KB) Summary Praia Sancho, seen from a cliff on the south coast of the island. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 713 KB) Summary Praia Sancho, seen from a cliff on the south coast of the island. ... Taipei 101, the worlds tallest building, also a popular tourist destination in Asia, located in Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan). ... In ecology, an ecosystem is a combination of all the living and non-living elements of an area. ... In Botany a Flora (or FlorÃ¦) is a collective term for plant life and can also refer to a descriptive catalogue of the plants of any geographical area, geological period, etc. ... Fauna is a collective term for animal life. ... The Blue Marble: The famous photo of the Earth taken en route to the Moon by Apollo 17s Harrison Schmitt on December 7, 1972. ...

In 2001, UNESCO declared Fernando de Noronha, with Rocas Atoll, a World Heritage Site. UNESCO logo UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... Site #86: Memphis and its Necropolis, including the Pyramids of Giza (Egypt). ...

Diving

Fernando de Noronha is the best scuba diving place in Brazil. Warm water and exuberant subaquatic fauna and flora can be found in dives from 25 to 40 m deep. A Brazilian warship, the corvette NAeL Ipiranga, sank in 1987 and is lying in pristine condition at around 90 feet. Scuba divers. ... French steam corvette Dupleix (1856-1887) Canadian corvettes on antisubmarine convoy escort duty during World War II. A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, smaller than a frigate. ...

Ecological Problems

The majority of the original vegetation was cut down in the 19th century, when the island was used as a prison, to keep the prisioners from hiding and making rafts.

Binomial name Linum usitatissimum L. Linnaeus, 17?? Common flax (also known as linseed) is a member of the Linaceae family, which includes about 150 plant species widely distributed around the world. ... Species Tupinambis duseni Tupinambis longilineus Tupinambis merianae Tupinambis quadrilineatus Tupinambis rufescens Tupinambis teguixin Tupinambis is a lizard genus which belongs to the family of Teiidae. ... [[{{{diversity_link}}}|Diversity]] {{{diversity}}} Binomial name Kerodon rupestris Wied-Neuwied, 1820 Trinomial name {{{trinomial}}} Type Species {{{type_species}}} {{{subdivision_ranks}}} {{{subdivision}}} [[Image:{{{range_map}}}|{{{range_map_width}}}|]] Synonyms {{{synonyms}}} The Rock Cavy or MocÃ³, Kerodon rupestris, is a cavy species endemic to eastern Brazil, from easter PiauÃ state to Minas Gerais state. ...

External links

World Heritage Sites in Brazil

Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves | Brasília | Central Amazon Conservation Complex | Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas | Diamantina | Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves | Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas | Goiás | Iguaçu | Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis: Ruins of São Miguel das Missões (w/ Argentina) | Olinda | Ouro Preto | Pantanal Conservation Area | Salvador de Bahia | Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas | São Luís | Serra da Capivara Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... Elabana Falls is in Lamington National Park, part of the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves World Heritage site in Queensland, Australia. ... Guarumbi, part of Serra do Mar in the state of Paraná Serra do Mar (Portuguese for Mountain Range of the Sea) is a 1,500 km long system of mountain ranges and escarpments in Southeastern Brazil, which runs in parallel to the Atlantic Ocean coast, from the state of Esp... BrasÃlia from space, November 1990 Niemeyers Cathedral BrasÃlia is the capital city of Brazil. ... Satellite picture of part of lake JaÃº. The JaÃº National Park in Brazil is the largest forest reserve in South America and covers an area greater than 5. ... The Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park (Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros) is located in the State of GoiÃ¡s, 250 km from BrasÃlia and 500 Km from GoiÃ¢nia. ... The Emas National Park (Parque Nacional das Emas) is located in GoiÃ¡s state in the center-west of Brazil, between 17Âº50â€™â€”18Âº15â€™ S and 52Âº39â€™â€”53Âº10â€™W. External Links Satellite photo (Google) See also List of national parks of Brazil Categories: | ... Diamantina is a Brazilian town in the state of Minas Gerais. ... A typical ecosystem of Mata AtlÃ¢ntica at Serra do Mar Mata AtlÃ¢ntica is the Atlantic Rain Forest formerly covering the wet coastal hills along the Atlantic coast of Brazil (mostly in the Serra do Mar). ... Categories: Possible copyright violations ... GoiÃ¡s (also known as GoiÃ¡s Velho) is a small city and municipality in the state of GoiÃ¡s in Brazil. ... IguaÃ§u National Park is a national park in Brazil. ... FaÃ§ade of SÃ£o Miguel das MissÃµes Interior view of the ruins of SÃ£o Miguel das MissÃµes Movie still from The Mission - the set recreates what SÃ£o Miguel das MissÃµes may have looked like in the 18th century SÃ£o Miguel das MissÃµes... Igreja da Sé Ruas de Olinda Olinda (means oh beautiful) is a city in Pernambuco, Brazil, next to Recife and Paulista. ... View of Ouro Preto Vila Rica do Ouro Preto, a city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, is a former colonial mining town located in the Serra do EspinhaÃ§o mountains and has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its outstanding Baroque architecture. ... The Pantanal is the worldâ€™s largest wetland area, a flat landscape, with gently sloping and meandering rivers. ... Salvador and BaÃa de Todos os Santos from space, April 1997 Salvador (in full, SÃ£o Salvador da BaÃa de Todos os Santos, or in literal translation: Holy Savior of All Saints Bay) is a city on the northeast coast of Brazil and the capital of the northeastern... Congonhas is a historical city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. ... SÃ£o LuÃs is the capital of the state of MaranhÃ£o, Brazil. ... Serra da Capivara National Park is a national park in the north east of Brazil. ...

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