Berlengas
Encyclopedia
The Berlengas archipelago
is a group of small island
s 10 to 15 kilometers off the Portuguese
coast, west of the town of Peniche.
geographers, and was visited successively by Muslim
s, Viking
s and pirates/privateers from England
and France
.
In 1513, with the support of Queen Leonor, monks from the Order of São Jerónimo established a settlement on the island to offer assistance to navigation and victims of frequent shipwrecks. The monastery founded there (Monastery of Misericórdia da Berlenga), remained until the 16th century the when disease, lack of communication (due to inclement weather) and constant assaults by pirates and privateers from England and France, forced the monks abandon the service on the island.
During the Portuguese Restoration War
, in the reign of King John IV
, the Counsel of War determined the demolition of the monastery ruins, and the use of their rocks to build a coastal defense. Fort São João Baptista das Berlengas
was constructed from the remnants of the monastery ruins. By 1655 it had already, during its construction, it was able to resist an assault by three Barbary coast pirates.
The island's lighthouse, dubbed Duke of Braganza by locals, was constructed in 1841. In the 20th century a solar panel was installed in the lighthouse's 29 meter column, providing a 50 kilometer field of vision.
Nowadays, the archipelago has no permanent population.
The International Coordinating Council of UNESCO
’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB), meeting in Dresden
(Germany
) from 28 June to 1 July, while adding 18 new sites, included the Berlengas to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves
(WNBR): in a statement on 30 June 2011, the list of classified reserves were presented.
. 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 scientist
s and, in the summer, by a small number of tourists.
To the north of Berlenga Grande are uninhabitable islets, known for the existence of species of marine birds and a diverse ecosystem: the Estelas and Farilhões-Forcados Islets.
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
is a group of small island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
s 10 to 15 kilometers off the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
coast, west of the town of Peniche.
History
Human occupation on Berlenga Grande (the only habitable island) dates back to antiquity: the islands are referred to in Ptolemy's Geography as Λονδοβρίς (Londobris). Much later it was referred to as the island of Saturno by RomanRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
geographers, and was visited successively by Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s, Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
s and pirates/privateers from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
In 1513, with the support of Queen Leonor, monks from the Order of São Jerónimo established a settlement on the island to offer assistance to navigation and victims of frequent shipwrecks. The monastery founded there (Monastery of Misericórdia da Berlenga), remained until the 16th century the when disease, lack of communication (due to inclement weather) and constant assaults by pirates and privateers from England and France, forced the monks abandon the service on the island.
During the Portuguese Restoration War
Portuguese Restoration War
Portuguese Restoration War was the name given by nineteenth-century 'romantic' historians to the war between Portugal and Spain that began with the Portuguese revolution of 1640 and ended with the Treaty of Lisbon . The revolution of 1640 ended the sixty-year period of dual monarchy in Portugal...
, in the reign of King John IV
John IV of Portugal
|-|John IV was the King of Portugal and the Algarves from 1640 to his death. He was the grandson of Catherine, Duchess of Braganza, who had in 1580 claimed the Portuguese crown and sparked the struggle for the throne of Portugal. John was nicknamed John the Restorer...
, the Counsel of War determined the demolition of the monastery ruins, and the use of their rocks to build a coastal defense. Fort São João Baptista das Berlengas
Fort São João Baptista das Berlengas
Forte São João Baptista das Berlangas, or simply known as the Fort of the Berlangas, is located on the west coast of Portugal situated on the largest island of the Berlengas Archipelago, Berlenga Grande Island...
was constructed from the remnants of the monastery ruins. By 1655 it had already, during its construction, it was able to resist an assault by three Barbary coast pirates.
The island's lighthouse, dubbed Duke of Braganza by locals, was constructed in 1841. In the 20th century a solar panel was installed in the lighthouse's 29 meter column, providing a 50 kilometer field of vision.
Nowadays, the archipelago has no permanent population.
The International Coordinating Council of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB), meeting in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
(Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) from 28 June to 1 July, while adding 18 new sites, included the Berlengas to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves
World Network of Biosphere Reserves
The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves covers internationally-designated protected areas, known as biosphere reserves, that are meant to demonstrate a balanced relationship between man and nature The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves covers internationally-designated protected...
(WNBR): in a statement on 30 June 2011, the list of classified reserves were presented.
Geography
Berlenga Grande 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. In the larger island (Berlenga Grande) there is an ancient fort and a lighthouseLighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
. 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 scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
s and, in the summer, by a small number of tourists.
To the north of Berlenga Grande are uninhabitable islets, known for the existence of species of marine birds and a diverse ecosystem: the Estelas and Farilhões-Forcados Islets.