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Ilhéu de Curral Velho

Ilhéu de Curral Velho and its natural cavern
Ilhéu de Curral VelhoShow map of Cape VerdeIlhéu de Curral VelhoShow map of Atlantic Ocean
Geography
Location	Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates	15°58′08″N 22°47′24″W / 15.969°N 22.790°W / 15.969; -22.790
Area	0.0077 km (0.0030 sq mi)
Highest elevation	5 m (16 ft)
Administration
Cape Verde
Municipality	Boa Vista
Demographics
Population	0
Ramsar Wetland
Official name	Curral Velho
Designated	18 July 2005
Reference no.	1575

The Ilhéu de Curral Velho and adjacent coast Important Bird Area lies in the southeastern part of the island of Boa Vista in the Cape Verde archipelago off the coast of north-west Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. It is a 986 ha site consisting of the Ilhéu de Curral Velho, as well as the area opposite it on Boa Vista centred on the deserted village of Curral Velho. It was designated as a Ramsar wetland of international importance on July 18, 2005.

The 0.77 ha (1.9-acre) Ilhéu de Curral Velho is an unvegetated, heavily eroded, calcareous rock, 15 metres (49 ft) in height, lying some 500 m (1,600 ft) off the southernmost point of Boavista. The island and a 41 ha marine area around it are a protected nature reserve (Reserva Natural Integral Ilhéu de Curral Velho).

The area on the main island consists of sand-dunes, a lagoon and an oasis with a vegetation dominated by palm trees, acacias and Tamarix senegalensis. It has a typical arid-zone flora and fauna. The sandy beaches are important nesting sites for threatened Hawksbill and Loggerhead sea turtles. Lizards found in the area include Chioninia stangeri and Hemidactylus bouvieri. The islet is a nesting area for the brown booby, magnificent frigatebird and Cape Verde shearwater. Birds breeding on the adjacent mainland coast include Iago sparrow, common kestrel, common quail, cream-colored courser, Kentish plover and many other species.

See also

• List of islands of Cape Verde

References

1. ^ "Curral Velho". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
2. Protected areas in the island of Boa Vista - Municipality of Boa Vista, March 2013 (in Portuguese)
3. Resolução nº 36/2016 Archived 2021-01-18 at the Wayback Machine, Estratégia e Plano Nacional de Negócios das Áreas Protegidas
4. ^ "Ilhéu de Curral Velho and adjacent coastal area". BirdLife International. Retrieved 3 August 2018.

v t e Islands of Cape Verde
Island groups	Barlavento Sotavento
Islands	Boa Vista Brava Fogo Maio Sal Santa Luzia Santiago Santo Antão São Nicolau São Vicente
Islets	Ilhéu de Baluarte Ilhéu Branco Ilhéu de Curral Velho Ilhéu Derrubado Ilhéu Laje Branca Ilhéu dos Pássaros (Boa Vista) Ilhéu dos Passaros (São Vicente) Ilhéu Rabo de Junco Ilhéu Raso Ilhéu de Sal Rei Ilhéu de Santa Maria Ilhéus do Rombo Ilhéu de Cima Ilhéu Grande

v t e The island of Boa Vista
Santa Isabel	Bofarreira Estância de Baixo Povoação Velha Rabil Sal Rei
São João Baptista	Cabeça dos Tarrafes Fundo das Figueiras João Galego
Mountains	Monte Caçador and Pico Forcado Monte Estância Rocha Estância Morro de Areia Morro Negro Monte Santo António Monte Vigia
Islets	Ilhéu de Baluarte Ilhéu de Curral Velho Ilhéu Derrubado Ilhéu dos Pássaros Ilhéu de Sal Rei
Beaches	Praia de Atalanta Praia de Cabral Praia de Carquejinha Praia de Chaves Ervatão Praia das Gatas Praia de Santa Mónica Praia da Varandinha
Other geographical features	Curral Velho Espingueira João Valente Bank Lagoa do Rabil Ribeira do Rabil Ponta do Sol Ponta Varandinha Deserto de Viana Aristides Pereira International Airport
Category Commons

• Important Bird Areas of Cape Verde
• Geography of Boa Vista, Cape Verde
• Islands of Cape Verde
• Ramsar sites in Cape Verde