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29-568: The Cíes consist of three islands, Monteagudo ("Sharp Mount" or North Island), do Faro ("Lighthouse Island", or Illa do Medio, "Middle Island") and San Martiño ("Saint Martin" or South Island). Monteagudo is separated from the Morrazo peninsula by the North Canal while San Martiño is separated from the coast of Santoulo cape (mount Ferro) by the Freu da Porta Strait . The Do Faro island

58-746: A number of archipelagos , islands and cays , namely the Cíes, Ons , Sálvora , Noro  [ es ] , Vionta, Cortegada Island and the Malveiras  [ es ] . The marine part of the Park is measured as a 100-meter-wide strip from the shore in low tide . Since 1992, underwater fishing is forbidden in the islands. National Parks are nature areas nearly untransformed by human activity that, based on their landscape , geological or ecosystems possess aesthetic , ecologic , educative or scientific values worth of special protection. Therefore,

87-832: A sea. A piece of land on a very tight river bend or one between two rivers is sometimes said to form a peninsula, for example in the New Barbadoes Neck in New Jersey , United States. A peninsula may be connected to the mainland via an isthmus , for example, in the Isthmus of Corinth which connects to the Peloponnese peninsula. Peninsulas can be formed from continental drift , glacial erosion , glacial meltwater , glacial deposition , marine sediment , marine transgressions , volcanoes, divergent boundaries or river sedimentation. More than one factor may play into

116-519: A variety of birds wintering or resting on their migratory journeys here. In the Alto da Campa (Illa do Faro) and in the Faro do Peito (San Martiño), there are ornithological observatories. The waters around the islands are rich in biodiversity, attracting whales, dolphins, and sharks including blue sharks and basking sharks . The underwater area surrounding the Cíes forms one of the richest ecosystems on

145-524: Is a camping area but permissions have to be reserved at the Vigo port. A supermarket, a visitor center and a restaurant cater for visitors. There are no waste bins on the islands. Visitors are required to take their litter back to the mainland. The Cíes Islands are composed of nine beaches with fine white sand and clear waters. In February 2007 the British newspaper The Guardian chose the beach of Rodas , on

174-418: Is formed mainly of autochthonous species, like gorse , broom , asparagus , spurge flax ( Thymelaea ) or rockrose ( Cistaceae ). The woodland has suffered bigger alterations, since most endemic species like the common fig or the pyrenaean oak ( Quercus pyrenaica ) are now reduced to symbolic representation by the reforestation of nearly one fourth of the surface with pine trees and eucalyptus . On

203-525: Is linked to the North island by an accumulation of sand 1,200 m (3,937 ft) long known as Rodas beach , in the eastern side of the island. During high tide the sea flows between the islands in the western side and, blocked by the beach it fills the lagoon between the sandy area and the rocks. The highest peak is the Alto das Cíes (197 m (646 ft)) in Monteagudo. The islands formed by

232-504: Is the Arabian Peninsula . The word peninsula derives from Latin paeninsula , from paene  'almost' and insula  'island'. The word entered English in the 16th century. A peninsula is generally defined as a piece of land surrounded on most sides by water. A peninsula may be bordered by more than one body of water, and the body of water does not have to be an ocean or

261-571: The Iberian Peninsula western coast. Typically marshland flora (like rushes ) grow in the area of the lagoon. There is a large colony of seagulls, about 22,000 pairs, and they are the dominant species in Cíes. A census in 1960 counted 400 pairs of Iberian guillemots ( Uria aalge albionis ), a species now almost extinct on the islands. Other species include birds of prey, pigeons, petrels , pelicans, doves, woodpeckers and other types of bird, which nest in trees and cliffs. Also, there are

290-462: The Natura 2000 network, which develops European Union Directives in relation to habitats and birds . It contains one of the main colonies of the yellow-legged gull . The ZEPAs are protected mainly to avoid pollution and general deterioration of the places used by birds permanently or during their migrations. In summer, boats link Monteagudo with the ports of Vigo, Baiona and Cangas . There

319-603: The comarca of Vigo . It is a tourist town with a medieval historical center situated by the outlet of the Vigo Bay. Its population of just over 11,000 rises to around 45,000 in summer, if one includes the tourists. Since it is on the Portuguese Way , one pilgrimage route of the Camino de Santiago 30,000 hikers also visit the town every year. Other than tourism the major economic activities revolve around fishing. It

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348-524: The Galician coast. The most remarkable thing is an important forest of brown algae. The perimeter of the islands has different types of environments: the cliffs, exposed to strong waves, are populated by barnacles and mussels. In its underwater part, very rocky, you can find crabs, spider crabs, lobsters and octopuses. On the beaches of the most protected areas there are many bivalve molluscs, as well as turbot, plaice and sole. The rocky but protected areas of

377-471: The activities that alter or endanger the stability of the ecosystem are forbidden. Some traditional activities (like traditional fishing) are allowed as long as they are compatible with the environment and the preservation of natural resources. Since 1988, the Islands have a status of ZEPA ( Zona de Especial Protección para las Aves , Spanish for Special Protection Area for Birds), and they are included in

406-706: The deterioration it was suffering by human activity, it was declared a Nature Reserve in 1980. The level of legal protection varied until November 21, 2000, when the Galician Parliament unanimously agreed to apply for the status of National Park to the central Government. The Spanish Congress of Deputies signed a definite agreement in June 2002, creating the National Land-Marine Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia, formed by

435-459: The end of the Tertiary , when some parts of the coast sank, creating the rías ("estuaries"). All three islands are the peaks of the coastal mountains now partially under the sea and are formed mainly of granitic rock. The land is mountainous with rough, nearly vertical cliffs of more than 100 m (328 ft) on the western side, and numerous caves ( furnas ) formed by erosion from

464-498: The formation of a peninsula. For example, in the case of Florida , continental drift, marine sediment, and marine transgressions were all contributing factors to its shape. In the case of formation from glaciers (e.g., the Antarctic Peninsula or Cape Cod ), peninsulas can be created due to glacial erosion , meltwater or deposition . If erosion formed the peninsula, softer and harder rocks were present, and since

493-474: The glacier only erodes softer rock, it formed a basin . This may create peninsulas, and occurred for example in the Keweenaw Peninsula . In the case of formation from meltwater, melting glaciers deposit sediment and form moraines , which act as dams for the meltwater. This may create bodies of water that surround the land, forming peninsulas. If deposition formed the peninsula, the peninsula

522-585: The inhabitants of Baiona repelled an attempt by the privateer Francis Drake to take the town. Five years later, Philip II of Spain beat the pirates that were laying the Galician coast to waste with a fleet of 98 vessels and 17,000 soldiers. The economy in Baiona is focused on tourism. The Parador de Baiona stands out from all the hotels in the village. Other activities are retail, subsistence agriculture, coastal fishing and construction. Parador of Baiona . Belonging to Paradores (state-owned hotel network), it

551-401: The interior of the islands are populated by true forests of anemones and numerous sea urchins. The waters surrounding the Cíes are usually visited by dolphins, whales and sea turtles. The water circulation system that enters and leaves the Galician estuaries and the mixture of fresh and salt water favor the concentration of nutrients and microorganisms that are a source of food for the rest of

580-582: The island of Monteagudo , as "the best beach in the world." " Galegos come here to spend long, lazy summer days on the Praia das Rodas, a perfect crescent of soft, pale sand backed by small dunes sheltering a calm lagoon of crystal-clear sea ", says the magazine. In 2022, the island was chosen by the New York Times , as one of the 52 Places for a Changed World , due to its efforts "to protect its environment and guard against overtourism ". The scrubland

609-401: The marine species. Archaeological remains can also be observed on these seabeds. 42°13′24″N 8°54′14″W  /  42.22333°N 8.90389°W  / 42.22333; -8.90389 Peninsula A peninsula is a landform that extends from a mainland and is surrounded by water on most sides. Peninsulas exist on each continent. The largest peninsula in the world

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638-455: The other hand, the strong winds with a high content in salt act as barrier in the development of the trees. Some rare and representative coastal species do grow in the dunes, beaches and cliffs under very extreme climatic conditions, as the sea pink ( Armeria pungens ; in galician herba de namorar or "love plant"), locally endangered, and an important number of camariñas (galician common name for Corema album ), an endemic species from

667-525: The sea and the wind. The eastern side is less steep, covered by woods and bushes and protected from the Atlantic winds, allowing the formation of beaches and dunes . Atlantic squalls pass over the islands, unloading as they collide with the coast. Therefore, the Cíes receive more or less half the quantity of rain as the rest of the Rías Baixas . Due to the high natural value of this area and to

696-468: The sediment is deposited, forming a delta peninsula. Marine transgressions (changes in sea level) may form peninsulas, but also may affect existing peninsulas. For example, the water level may change, which causes a peninsula to become an island during high water levels. Similarly, wet weather causing higher water levels make peninsulas appear smaller, while dry weather make them appear larger. Sea level rise from global warming will permanently reduce

725-421: The size of some peninsulas over time. Peninsulas are noted for their use as shelter for humans and Neanderthals . The landform is advantageous because it gives hunting access to both land and sea animals. They can also serve as markers of a nation's borders. Baiona (Pontevedra) Baiona is a municipality in the province of Pontevedra , in the autonomous community of Galicia , Spain . It belongs to

754-497: The volcano erupts near shallow water. Marine sediment may form peninsulas by the creation of limestone . A rift peninsula may form as a result of a divergent boundary in plate tectonics (e.g. the Arabian Peninsula ), while a convergent boundary may also form peninsulas (e.g. Gibraltar or the Indian subcontinent ). Peninsulas can also form due to sedimentation in rivers. When a river carrying sediment flows into an ocean,

783-546: Was composed of sedimentary rock , which was created from a large deposit of glacial drift . The hill of drift becomes a peninsula if the hill formed near water but was still connected to the mainland, for example during the formation of Cape Cod about 23,000 years ago. In the case of formation from volcanoes, when a volcano erupts magma near water, it may form a peninsula (e.g., the Alaskan Peninsula ). Peninsulas formed from volcanoes are especially common when

812-415: Was founded in 140 BC by Diomedes of Aetolia. Throughout its history it has had several names including Stuciana, Abóriga, Balcagia, and Erizana. In 1201 King Alfonso IX of Leon granted the town a royal charter . In 1370, King Ferdinand I of Portugal , who was proclaimed King of Castile took up residence in the town and established his seat there until being forced to return to Portugal . In 1474, Baiona

841-505: Was seized by Don Pedro Alvarez de Soutomaior, also known as Pedro Madruga , Count of Caminha. On March 1, 1493, the Pinta , one of the ships from Columbus ' voyage to the New World returned to Europe and arrived in Baiona, making the town's port the first to receive news of the discovery of America. A replica of the ship can be visited, and the event is celebrated every year. In 1585

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