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The Formigas (Ants) Islets ((: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 northeast of Santa Maria Island and southeast of São Miguel Island covering a surface area of approximately . In the same area is the submerged Dollabarat Reef. The bank is disturbed only by a lighthouse located on the largest mound. ==History== 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 above the mean sea level: it sits 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 , 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. Since 4 April 1988, the Formigas Bank has the status of Nature Reserve and is protected by a decree of the Azorean Regional Assembly (Regional Legislative Decree Nº11/88/A), but it is also considered a European Site of Community Importance (Rede Natura 2000). The habitats included in the Azorean decree include the area from the emerged islets to depths of more than , yet this has not stopped incidence of commercial fishing. Consequently, the zone is patrolled regularly by a Portuguese naval vessel based in Ponta Delgada. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Formigas」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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