Fernando de Noronha

Fernando de Noronha
State district
State District of Fernando de Noronha
Location
Fernando de Noronha
Location in Brazil
Coordinates: 03°51′18″S 32°25′30″W / 3.85500°S 32.42500°W / -3.85500; -32.42500
Country Brazil
State Pernambuco
FoundedAugust 10, 1503
Founded byAmerigo Vespucci
Named afterFernão de Loronha
Government
 • President of the Federative Republic of BrazilLuiz Inácio Lula da Silva
 • GovernorRaquel Lyra
 • General AdministratorThallyta Figueirôa
Area
 • Total
18 km2 (6.9 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total
3,167
 • Density180/km2 (460/sq mi)
DemonymPortuguese: Noronhense
Time zoneUTC−02:00 (FNT)
Postal code
53990-000 to 53999-999
Area code+55 81
ISO 3166 codeBR-PE
Websitewww.noronha.pe.gov.br fernandodenoronha.org
Official nameBrazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves
TypeNatural
Criteriavii, ix, x
Designated2001 (25th session)
Reference no.1000
RegionLatin America and the Caribbean

Fernando de Noronha (Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: [feʁˈnɐ̃du dʒi noˈɾoɲɐ]), officially the State District of Fernando de Noronha (Portuguese: Distrito Estadual de Fernando de Noronha) and formerly known as the Federal Territory of Fernando de Noronha (Território Federal de Fernando de Noronha) until 1988, is an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, part of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, and located 191 nautical miles (354 km; 220 mi) off the Brazilian coast.

Fernando de Noronha consists of 21 islands and islets, extending over an area of 26 square kilometres (10 sq mi). Only the eponymous main island is inhabited; it has an area of 18.4 square kilometres (7.1 sq mi) and a population estimated at 3,101 in 2020. While most of the archipelago is relatively low-lying, there are parts reaching more than 100 meters (330 ft) in elevation.

The islands are administratively unique in Brazil. They form a "state district" (distrito estadual) that is administered directly by the government of the state of Pernambuco (despite being geographically closer to the state of Rio Grande do Norte). The state district's jurisdiction also includes the very remote Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, located 337 nautical miles (624 km; 388 mi) northeast of Fernando de Noronha.

In 1988, 70% of the area of Fernando de Noronha was established as a national marine park. In 2001, UNESCO designated the islands as a World Heritage Site because of their importance as a feeding ground for tuna, sharks, sea turtles, and marine mammals. Its time zone is UTC−02:00 all year round.