260:
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298:, this circular crater measures about 150 metres (490 ft) in diameter, with a maximum water depth of approximately 20 metres (66 ft). As the opening in the crater faces north toward São Miguel, it creates a small natural harbor and sandy beach protected from wave action. The harbor and beach are so popular for swimming that from June to October multiple daily ferries transport bathers between Vila Franca do Campo and the islet. Due to the islet's protected status, only 400 total visitors may land there per day.
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Vila Franca Islet was discovered no later than 1537—the year written documents first attest to its existence—as early settlers of São Miguel moved west from their original settlements. In the past the islet accommodated various human activities and uses, including a military fort, a port, vineyards,
283:. The semicircular islet measures approximately 5 hectares (12 acres) or 6 hectares (15 acres) in area. The islet's highest point is approximately 62 metres (203 ft) above sea level. One of the islet's most notable geological formations is the 32.5-metre (107 ft)
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Until 1982 one family privately owned the islet. This family holidayed and maintained vineyards on the islet, producing wine for local consumption. Apparently they were responsible for bringing invasive species to the islet, including
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circuit. Events for the world series have taken place at Vila Franca Islet nine times: in 2010 and once every year from 2012 to 2019. A tenth event was scheduled for 6 September 2020, but was cancelled due to the
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Memória
Concernente à Construção da Doca do Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo na Ilha de São Miguel (Memory Concerning the Construction of the Dock at the Islet of Vila Franca do Campo in the Island of São
350:. In 2004 the Legislative Assembly increased the area of protected waters to 350 metres (1,150 ft) all around the islet's coastline and further restricted human activities on the islet, including
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História do Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo da Ilha de São Miguel (History of the Islet of Vila Franca do Campo in the Island of São Miguel)
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The islet is located between 500 metres (1,600 ft) and 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) off the south-central coast of the island of
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256:, resulting in characteristic vertically fractured rock formations resembling columns. The islet contains a few underwater caves.
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Secretaria
Regional da Agricultura e Ambiente (Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Environment of the Azores (2011).
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Though the islet only supports a thin layer of soil, historically the islet's highest portions were used for
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825:"A CONSERVATIONAL APPROACH ON THE SEABIRD POPULATIONS OF ILHÉU DE VILA FRANCA DO CAMPO, AZORES, PORTUGAL"
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stands watch over the island. The native plants' continued health and presence are threatened by several
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Vila Franca Islet functions as a breeding ground for various marine bird species including
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Rodrigues, Pedro; Micael, Joana; Rodrigo, Roshan K.; Cunha, Regina T. (September 2009).
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origin heavily eroded by the sea and seismic forces over time. It is composed mostly of
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618:"Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo Protected Area for the Management of Habitat or Species"
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and a whale watch. Historically the eastern part of the islet was used for butchering
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The volcanic cone's crater is open to the sea and filled with water. Known locally as
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342:. In recognition of the islet's role as a marine bird habitat, in 1983 the regional
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362:. Despite governmental protection, human visitors occasionally destroy nest sites.
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1071:(in Portuguese). Ponta Delgada, Azores: Câmara Municipal de Vila Franca do Campo.
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Penhascos
Dourados - O Ilhéu da Vila (Golden Cliffs - The Islet of Vila Franca)
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decreed the islet and surrounding waters up to 30 metres (98 ft) deep a
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Endemic
Azorean flowering plants growing on the islet include Azorean
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987:"Red Bull Cliff Diving to return to Vila Franca islet in the Azores"
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943:"Viagens de barco ao Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo recomeçaram".
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210:. The entire islet and surrounding waters constitute a protected
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497:. Fish and other aquatic animals present in the area include
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and fishing. Since 2002 the conservation organization
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located off the south-central coast of the island of
949:(in Portuguese). No. 26,503. 1991. p. 4.
658:Turismo de Portugal (Tourism of Portugal) (2011).
885:Clube Naval Vila Franca do Campo (CNVFC) (2019).
291:, which is located off the islet's southern end.
72:Location of the islet off the coast of São Miguel
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1383:Hydrothermal vents and seamounts of the Azores
234:Vila Franca Islet is the exposed remains of a
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962:"Decreto Regional Legislativo no. 22/2004/A"
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230:Panoramic view of the islet's central crater
861:"Decreto Regulamentar Regional no. 13/83/A"
742:"Azores, S. Miguel - Red Bull Cliff Diving"
577:Vila Franca Islet is a regular stop on the
1121:
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1058:Abranches, João António Garcia de (1841).
1044:Abranches, João António Garcia de (1834).
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322:. Marine birds visiting the islet include
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1078:O Anel da Princesa (The Princess's Ring)
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1062:(in Portuguese). Ponta Delgada, Azores.
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489:The central lagoon is well-suited for
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1076:Martins, António M. de Frias (2004).
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263:The islet seen from São Miguel, with
960:Legislative Assembly of the Azores.
887:"Cruzeiro do Ilhéu - Online Tickets"
136:0.05 km (0.019 sq mi)
41:Vila Franca Islet from the southeast
967:(in Portuguese). pp. 3506–3509
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785:... Histórias - e outras coisas ...
711:"The Ilhéu of Vila Franca do Campo"
13:
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1019:Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
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857:Legislative Assembly of the Azores
746:Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
596:
579:Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series
344:Legislative Assembly of the Azores
14:
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709:Mulder, Joyce (28 October 2017).
1177:
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1084:: Intermezzo-Audiovisuais, Lda.
715:Terra Azul Azores Whale Watching
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1414:Uninhabited islands of Portugal
1144:Autonomous Region of the Azores
660:"Islet of Vila Franca do Campo"
572:
358:has recognized the islet as an
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779:Soares, John (25 April 2019).
1:
1332:Caves and geological features
1014:"2020 World Series Cancelled"
622:parquesnaturais.azores.gov.pt
589:
453:plant species, including the
194:) is a vegetated uninhabited
191:Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo
28:Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo
16:Islet in the Azores, Portugal
1323:List of Islets in the Azores
866:(in Portuguese). p. 804
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7:
924:(in English and Portuguese)
889:(in English and Portuguese)
624:(in English and Portuguese)
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1012:Red Bull (21 April 2020).
991:O Jornal (The Herald News)
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381:), Azorean forget-me-not (
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1067:Ferreira, Manuel (1989).
740:Red Bull (26 July 2014).
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324:band-rumped storm petrel
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834:. Supplement 6: 217–225
1373:D. João de Castro Bank
914:BirdLife International
781:"Ilhéu da Vila Franca"
372:Daucus carota azoricus
356:BirdLife International
268:
231:
189:
483:Pittosporum undulatum
426:Pericallis malvifolia
394:), Azorean spurge or
375:), Azorean firetree (
262:
229:
117:37.70556°N 25.44333°W
1409:Islets of the Azores
859:(16 February 1983).
477:Metrosideros excelsa
387:), Azorean heather (
281:Vila Franca do Campo
279:, town, and port of
1378:Princess Alice Bank
565:which they used as
540:remain noticeable.
360:Important Bird Area
206:archipelago of the
122:37.70556; -25.44333
113: /
21:
946:Correio dos Açores
922:BirdLife Data Zone
557:("kitchen reef").
464:elmleaf blackberry
269:
232:
19:
1404:São Miguel Island
1391:
1390:
1358:Reefs, banks and
1229:Grupo Ocidental (
1080:(in Portuguese).
1049:(in Portuguese).
993:. 15 January 2020
664:visitportugal.com
584:COVID-19 pandemic
499:greater amberjack
336:little shearwater
312:Cory's shearwater
182:Vila Franca Islet
179:
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157:Autonomous region
66:Vila Franca Islet
20:Vila Franca Islet
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1344:Gruta das Torres
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1151:Grupo Oriental (
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1038:Further reading
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407:bracel-da-rocha
308:Bulwer's petrel
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446:Dracaena draco
409:fescue grass (
348:nature reserve
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26:Native name:
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1023:. Retrieved
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995:. Retrieved
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969:. Retrieved
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626:. Retrieved
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573:Cliff diving
563:Arundo donax
562:
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547:
536:. Abandoned
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495:scuba diving
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459:Arundo donax
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340:roseate tern
332:Fea's petrel
316:little egret
305:
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277:municipality
270:
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233:
216:cliff diving
190:
181:
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167:Demographics
147:
1318:Vila Franca
1164:Santa Maria
534:viticulture
519:sea urchins
511:nudibranchs
441:dragon tree
378:Myrica faya
328:common tern
267:on the left
251:palagonitic
175:uninhabited
120: /
96:Coordinates
1398:Categories
1169:São Miguel
590:References
515:parrotfish
507:moray eels
491:snorkeling
455:cane grass
320:sooty tern
273:São Miguel
204:Portuguese
200:São Miguel
186:Portuguese
172:Population
108:25°26′36″W
105:37°42′20″N
1360:seamounts
1293:Mosteiros
1288:Monchique
1278:Fradinhos
1215:São Jorge
1053:, Azores.
538:vineyards
527:stingrays
401:Euphorbia
236:Surtseyan
222:Geography
81:Geography
1283:Madalena
1273:Formigas
1220:Terceira
1205:Graciosa
916:(2020).
832:Açoreana
551:dolphins
523:starfish
503:groupers
451:invasive
443:species
421:azoricus
289:Farilhão
265:Farilhão
149:Portugal
86:Location
1308:Sabrina
1047:Miguel)
1025:25 June
997:25 June
971:25 June
928:25 June
893:25 June
870:25 June
838:25 June
791:25 June
751:25 June
720:25 June
669:25 June
628:25 June
544:History
431:vidália
414:petraea
412:Festuca
403:azorica
392:azorica
352:camping
296:Boquete
287:called
202:in the
1303:Rosais
1268:Cabras
1256:Islets
1247:Flores
1088:
1082:Lisbon
567:hedges
525:, and
472:myrtle
470:, the
429:, and
367:carrot
338:, and
318:, and
247:basalt
208:Azores
161:Azores
1298:Praia
1263:Baixo
1242:Corvo
1200:Faial
965:(PDF)
864:(PDF)
828:(PDF)
474:tree
419:Lotus
390:Erica
302:Biome
196:islet
1313:Topo
1210:Pico
1086:ISBN
1027:2020
999:2020
973:2020
930:2020
895:2020
872:2020
840:2020
793:2020
753:2020
722:2020
671:2020
630:2020
493:and
254:tuff
249:and
133:Area
416:),
405:),
241:of
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