The Desertas Islands, or Ilhéus Desertas, lie about 20 km (12.5 miles) southeast from Madeira. The three islands are named Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande and Ilhéu Bugio. In the past there have been attempts to settle Deserta Grande, the largest of the islands, but the lack of water, the thin soil and the fact that the island is very narrowly shaped have caused these to fail. The last attempted settlement dates back several centuries. After that the islands were 'deserted', hence their name. Later the Desertas Islands were a privately owned retreat, where the guests could hunt feral goats and rabbits. Nowadays they are a nature reserve and off limits.
Criuses around the islands are available, but only very, very rarely, people are allowed ashore. If you are one of the lucky few, beware of the Lycosa ingens spiders, as their bites have caused fatalities. Around the islands you may see seals and seabirds.
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