Trindade and Martim Vaz
From Freepedia
The islands of Trindade and Martim Vaz (also called Martin Vaz), which are located 715 km East of Vitória in the Southern Atlantic Ocean, belong to Espirito Santo state of Brazil. The islands, 10.4 km2 in area, are uninhabited, except for a garrison of the Brazilian Navy, 32 strong. The group consists of Ilha Trindade, by far the largest island with an area of 10.1 km2, and Ilhas de Martim Vaz 47 km further East, with an aggregate area of just 0.3 km2 (30 hectares).
The islands are of volcanic origin and have rugged terrain. They are largely barren, except the Southern part of Ilha Trindade. They were discovered in 1502 by Portuguese explorer João da Nova and stayed Portuguese until they became part of Brazil at her independence. From 1890 to 1896, Trindade was occupied by the United Kingdom, until an accord with Brazil was reached.
The individual islands with their respective locations are given in the following:
- Ilha Trindade, at 20° 31′ 30″ S, 29° 19′ 30″ W
- Ilhas de Martim Vaz, at 20° 30′ 00″ S, 28° 51′ 00″ W
- Ilha do Norte, at 20° 30′ 00″ S, 28° 51′ 00″ W, 300 meters NNW of Ilha da racha, 75 meters high
- Ilha da Racha (Ilha Martim Vaz), at 20° 30′ 18″ S, 29° 20′ 42″ W, 175 meters high near the northwest end. The shores are strewn with boulders.
- Ilote de Angulha, a flat circular rock, is 200 off the northwest end of Ilha da Racha, 60 meters high
- Ilha do Sul, at 20° 31′ 00″ S, 28° 51′ 00″ W, 1 600 meters south of Ilha da Racha. It is a rocky pinnacle.
Ilha do Sul is the Easternmost point of Brazil.
