Ilhéu Branco
Island of Cape Verde / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ilhéu Branco (Portuguese for "white islet") is an uninhabited 278-hectare (690-acre)[1] islet in the Barlavento group of the Cape Verde archipelago off the coast of north-west Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. Ilhéu Branco is flanked by the islands of Santa Luzia to the north-west and Ilhéu Raso to the south-east. Since 1990, the islet is part of the protected area Reserva Natural Integral de Santa Luzia.[2][3] Together with Santa Luzia and Ilhéu Raso, Ilhéu Branco is on the tentative list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.[4]
Geography | |
---|---|
Location | Atlantic Ocean |
Coordinates | 16.658056°N 24.669722°W / 16.658056; -24.669722 |
Archipelago | Cape Verde |
Area | 2.78 km2 (1.07 sq mi) |
Length | 3.6 km (2.24 mi) |
Width | 1.4 km (0.87 mi) |
Highest elevation | 327 m (1073 ft) |
Administration | |
Branco is a large rectangular rock, less than 4 km long by more than 1 km wide, rising steeply to a ridge running the length of the island. Its highest point, Topa da Berta, is 327 metres (1,073 feet) above sea level.[5][6] Its summit is lower than that of Santa Luzia but higher than Raso. The coast is rocky, except for an area of dunes on the west side and a small area of level ground on the east side. Seas around the island are rough throughout the year, making access difficult.[7]