维拉弗兰卡岛，圣米格尔岛，亚速尔群岛，葡萄牙 Vila Franca Islet, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal (© ARoxo/Getty Images)

海洋的隐秘心跳 The ocean's hidden heartbeat

维拉弗兰卡岛，圣米格尔岛，亚速尔群岛，葡萄牙

位于葡萄牙亚速尔群岛圣米格尔岛附近的维拉弗兰卡岛，是一座无人居住的绿色火山岛，静静地坐落在弗兰卡村镇的南侧。尽管今日宁静怡人，这座小岛却拥有悠久而多变的历史。早在1537年，文献中便有定居者向西扩展至此的记载，使维拉弗兰卡岛正式登上历史舞台。它曾先后作为军事要塞、避风港、葡萄园种植地，乃至观鲸瞭望台。

该岛本身为一座死火山的火山口，现已被划为自然保护区，栖息着包括布氏鹱、小白鹭与乌燕鸥在内的多种海鸟，生物多样性丰富。岛屿最具特色之处在于其中央几乎完美的环形泻湖，通过一条名为“博凯特”的狭窄通道与大海相连。通道朝北，正对圣米格尔岛，因此有效屏蔽了海浪，为泻湖形成了一个平静的天然港湾与沙滩。难怪这里会成为游泳爱好者的最爱。每年6月至10月期间，每天都有渡轮往返于小镇和小岛之间。为了保护生态环境，小岛每日接待游客数量被限制在400人。若你想探索海洋孕育的火山遗迹与生物栖息地，这里或许正是理想之选。

Vila Franca Islet, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal

Not far from São Miguel Island in the Azores archipelago of Portugal, you'll find Vila Franca Islet. This uninhabited green islet sits quietly just south of the town of Vila Franca do Campo. Beneath its serene surface, this gem holds a lively past. First documented in 1537, around the time when settlers from São Miguel began expanding westward, Vila Franca Islet has played many roles throughout its history. It has served as a military fort, a port, a vineyard site, and even a lookout for whale-watching.

Once a volcanic crater, this islet is now a protected nature reserve teeming with unique marine life, including bird species like Bulwer's petrel, little egret, and sooty tern. The unique shape of this tiny island, sculpted by nature, makes it truly special. At its heart lies an almost perfectly circular lagoon, linked to the sea by a narrow channel called Boquete. Since the opening faces north toward São Miguel, it shields the lagoon from ocean waves and forms a calm natural harbor with a sandy beach. It's no wonder the spot is a favorite for swimmers: from June to October, ferries run daily between the town and the islet. Access is limited to 400 visitors a day—do you want to be one of them?

标签: 葡萄牙, 群岛