The Berlengasarchipelago is a group of small islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal coast, west of the town of Peniche in Oeste region. These islands were traditionally known to British mariners as "the Burlings". The only habitable island is the largest island, Berlenga Grande, although there is no permanent habitation there at present. The other islands are grouped into two groups of islets, the Estelas Islets and the Farilhões-Forcados Islets.
History
Human occupation on Berlenga Grande dates back to antiquity: the islands are referred to in Ptolemy's Geography as Λονδοβρίς. Much later it was referred to as the island of Saturno by Roman geographers, and was visited successively by Muslims, Vikings and privateers. In 1513, with the support of Queen Eleanor of Viseu, 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, remained until the 16th century, when disease, lack of supplies and poor communication forced the monks to abandon their service on the island. After the Portuguese Restoration War, during the reign of King John IV, the Council of War determined that the demolition of the monastery ruins, and the use of their rocks to build a coastal defense would help protect the coastal settlements; the Fort of São João Baptista das Berlengas was constructed from the remnants of the monastery ruins. By 1655, it had already, during its construction, resisted an assault by three Barbary coast pirates. The island's lighthouse was constructed in 1841. In the 20th century a solar panel was installed in the lighthouse's column, providing a field of vision. The International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme, meeting in Dresden from 28 June to 1 July, while adding 18 new sites, included the Berlengas to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves : in a statement on 30 June 2011, the list of classified reserves were presented.
Geography
The archipelago is made up of the largest island, Berlenga Grande, and two groups of smaller islets, the Estelas Inlets and the Farilhões-Forcados Islets. As the archipelago has been declared a reservation area for the protection of the local fauna, it is only visited by scientists and, in the summer, by a small number of tourists. There is little soil on the rocky archipelago, so little plant life is supported. Sea birds and marine life, such as mackerel, mullet, and swordfish are abundant.
Berlenga Grande
At long and wide, Berlenga Grande is the largest of the islands of the Berlengas Archipelago. At its highest, it rises to above sea level. The island has a number of notable caves, including the Gruta Azul and the Furado Grande. The Furado Grande is a natural tunnel wide and tall which crosses through the entire island before opening up into a dramatic bay. The Fort of São João Baptista is located in the waters off the southeastern coast of Berlenga Grande, on a small islet connected to the island by a causeway/arch-bridge and anchorage to the north. It has been retrofitted as a rest house for tourists to stay at while visiting the islands.
Wrecks
A number of ships have wrecked on the Berlengas throughout documented history. In 1808, wrecked on Berlenga Grande in a gale, though without loss of life.
