|
( Trindade and Martim Vaz)
The islands of Trindade (occasionally called Trinidad) and Martim Vaz (also called Martin Vaz), which are located about 1,200&_160;km East of Vitória in the Southern Atlantic Ocean, belong to the State of Espírito Santo of Brazil. They are considered part of the area of the state capital, Vitória. The islands, 10.4&_160;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&_160;km², and Ilhas de Martim Vaz 47&_160;km further East, with an aggregate area of just 0.3&_160;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 its independence. From 1890 to 1896, Trindade was occupied by the United Kingdom, until an accord with Brazil was reached. During the period of British occupation, Trindade was known as "South Trinidad". The individual islands with their irrespective locations are given in the following The small island of Trindade, with an area of 10.3&_160;km², lies at the eastern end of an E-W-trending chain of submarine volcanoes and guyots extending about 1100&_160;km from the continental shelf off the Brazilian coast. The island lies more than halfway between Brazil and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge near the eastern end of the submarine Vitória-Trindade Ridge.
|
