Formigas Islets

Formigas
Formigas Bank
Islets (Ilhéus)
The lighthouse on Formigão, the largest islet of the Formigas
Official name: Banco das Formigas e Recife do Dollaborat
Name origin: formigas, Portuguese plural for ants
Nickname: Ilhas Formigas
Country	Portugal
Autonomous Region	Azores
Islands	Eastern Group
Location	Azores Platform, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Atlantic Ocean
Landmark	Formigas Lighthouse
Highest point	Formigas Lighthouse
- location	Formigão, Formigas, Azores
- elevation	11 m (36 ft)
- coordinates	37°16′15″N 24°46′49″W / 37.27083°N 24.78028°W / 37.27083; -24.78028
Lowest point	Sea level
- location	Atlantic Ocean
- elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	13 km (8 mi), Northwest-Southeast
Width	5.5 km (3 mi), Southwest-Northeast
Area	9 km2 (3 sq mi)
Biome	Marine (ocean)
Geology	Alkali basalt, Tephra, Trachyte, Trachybasalt
Orogeny	Volcanism
Period	Holocene
Website: http://siaram.azores.gov.pt/vulcanismo/banco-formigas/_intro.html

The Formigas (Ants) Islets (Portuguese pronunciation: [fuɾˈmiɡɐʃ]), sometimes referred to as the Formigas Bank, are a group of rock outcroppings in the eastern group of the Azores archipelago, an autonomous region of Portugal. The bank is located 43 kilometres (27 mi) northeast of Santa Maria Island and southeast of São Miguel Island covering a surface area of approximately 9,000 square metres (97,000 sq ft). In the same area is the submerged Dollabarat Reef. The bank is disturbed only by a lighthouse located on the largest mound.

The Formigas were discovered by Diogo de Silves and Gonçalo Velho Cabral during 1431, during their journey to Madeira. They were neglected due to the discovery of the larger islands of Santa Maria and São Miguel during the years ensuing. Gaspar Frutuoso, the Portuguese chronicler, reported during the 16th century of the rich marine life.

The first scientific vessel arrived during 1886: the Italian ship Corsaro visited the Formigas islets; the first scientific dredging being made then. The Princess Alice expedition also stopped during 1895, as did several others, mostly to investigate the marine life: scientifically and commercially.

On 2 March 1895, at the General Meeting of the Autonomous District of Ponta Delgada, the construction of lighthouses was initiated for the islands of São Miguel and Santa Maria. A lighthouse was built on the Formigas the same year. During 1948 a small uncovered wharf was built. The lighthouse was further modernized, then rebuilt during 1962 by a shipmaker Almirante Schultz Xavier. It is located in the southern part of the Formigas in a zone that is approximately 3 metres (9.8 ft) above the mean sea level: it sits 22 metres (72 ft) above sea level. The lighthouse has been updated since 1962 (most importantly with photovoltaic power replacing acetylene). It marks the characteristic profile in the oceanic landscape of the Formigas. It can be sighted from 22 kilometres (14 mi), presumably, during days of normal visibility, although there have been cases of seeing the lighthouse from the southeastern part of the island of São Miguel and the northeastern part of the island of Santa Maria.