Selvagem Grande Island, Island in the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal
Selvagem Grande Island is a rocky island in the Atlantic Ocean, part of the Portuguese Selvagens Islands archipelago, located roughly 260 kilometers south of Madeira. It is surrounded by steep cliffs that drop directly into the sea, with its highest point, Pico da Atalaia, rising to about 153 meters above sea level.
The Selvagens Islands were first reached by Portuguese explorers in 1438 and remained in private hands for centuries, used mainly for hunting birds and harvesting feathers. In the early 1970s, ownership changed and the islands became a nature reserve, watched over by resident guards.
The Selvagens Islands are home to the largest colony of Cory's shearwaters in the world, making them a key destination for birdwatchers. Standing on the rocky terrain, visitors can hear and watch these seabirds up close.
The island is a protected nature reserve, so visitors must check entry requirements in advance and follow the rules set by the on-site guards to avoid disturbing wildlife. The rocky terrain and steep cliffs call for sturdy footwear and careful footing at all times.
Although Selvagem Grande is the largest of the group, the two smaller neighboring islands, Selvagem Pequena and Ilhéu de Fora, are flat and covered in white calcareous sands, sheltering plant species not found on Selvagem Grande itself. Some of these plants, such as Monanthes lowei, grow nowhere else in the world.
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