Ilha Velha

Share Image

Berlenga Grande island has the shape of an 8, cut by many recesses. Ilha Velha (Old Island) is the name given to the northwest part of the island which is almost separated from the rest by a geologic fault. Its geology is dominated by the presence of igneous rocks (eg plutonic), coarse with feldspar granites of pink color. Along this route you can observe the plants and animals that inhabit the island, especially the birds. There’s no trees and vegetation is small (grasses and shrubs) due to strong salty winds, the inexistence of good soils and to water scarcity (there is no freshwater there). The vegetation is also affected by trampling caused unduly by visitors, so, stay on track. In Spring, gulls may become aggressive to defend the nests! Among the flora is "Armeria berlengensis" (an endemic species of this archipel), whose pink inflorescences are very beautiful. It is recalled that you can’t pick plants in Berlengas or in any other protected area. Let other visitors also enjoy it. The reptiles are represented by one subspecies of Carbonell Wall Lizard, easily seen on the trails. The ocellated lizard present until the beginning of this century on the island of Berlenga, is almost extinct. Between 1999 and 2000 it was implemented a recovery plan aimed at increasing the number of individuals on the island in order to ensure the viability of the population through breeding animals in captivity and subsequent release on the island. These efforts were unsuccessful and the last known record dates from 2010, so it cannot be excluded that the specie is extinct in Berlengas.