Berlengas, Nature reserve near Peniche, Portugal.
Berlengas is an island group with granite cliffs and around 9,600 hectares of protected area off the Portuguese coast. The waters surrounding the islands are clear and home to diverse marine creatures.
Monks settled on the islands from the 16th century onward and helped shipwreck survivors. This made the islands an important waypoint for Atlantic navigation.
The fort on the main island shows how the Portuguese built military structures long ago and now welcomes visitors as a shelter. It reflects how people have used this place for protection and refuge across the centuries.
Boats depart daily from Peniche, especially during the warmer months from May to October. Only up to 350 people can be on the islands at the same time to protect the natural environment.
The islands are home to rare plants found nowhere else in the world. At the same time, the area serves as a crucial breeding ground for protected seabirds of the Atlantic.
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