Ilhas Queimada Pequena e Queimada Grande Area of Relevant Ecological Interest, Protected nature reserve in São Paulo state, Brazil
The reserve encompasses two Atlantic islands with protected marine and land environments covering roughly 33 hectares. The area features rocky formations with coastal forests and flat zones that connect marine and terrestrial habitats.
Rising seas during the last ice age separated these islands from the mainland. This geographic isolation allowed unique evolutionary developments found nowhere else.
The name comes from Portuguese settlers who burned vegetation to clear land for farming. Today you can still see how this shaped the islands' landscape.
Access requires special permission from the Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade that manages the protected area. Visitors should contact the managing authority in advance to understand entry requirements.
The reserve holds the world's largest population of golden lancehead pit vipers adapted to hunt birds. These snakes evolved this behavior only on the isolated islands where ground prey is scarce.
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