St. Peter & St. Paul Rocks, North Atlantic Ocean

In March 2005 I sailed on the 382-passenger Silversea cruise ship MV Silver Shadow from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Lisbon, Portugal. In the Western Hemisphere my cruise ship was to call at the ports of Salvador and Natal in northeastern Brazil as well as the small Brazilian archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, which lies at latitude 3.85 S. and longitude 32.42 W., some 214 miles (345 km) off the coast of Brazil.

At 9 a.m. on March 14 the Silver Shadow arrived one mile (1.6 km) off St. Peter and St. Paul Rocks, which lie at latitude 0.93 N. and longitude 29.35 W., more than 496 miles (800 km) off the coast of Brazil. These equatorial Brazilian islands, composed of mylonitic peridotite, are of volcanic origin. The island group, some 820 feet (250 meters) wide and with a maximum height of 64 feet (19.5 meters), is the peak of a submarine mountain which extends 13,123 feet (4,000 meters) down to the sea bed below.

St. Peter and St. Paul Rocks are of interest primarily because they are so far offshore in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean. These isolated islands represent one of the very few places where a mid-oceanic ridge attains a height which is above sea level. In effect, these mid-Atlantic rocks serve as an oasis for marine life within an otherwise deep water environment.

There is no source of fresh water on the rocks other than rain, and the islands themselves are devoid of vegetation with the exception of two types of algae. But the marine flora and fauna provide a significant food source for the seabirds which reside and breed there. A 1971 biological survey by Smith et al.* showed that the brown booby (Sula leucogaster), the brown noddy (Anous stolidus) and the black noddy (Anous minutus) all breed on these rocks and that these birds' eggs are sometimes eaten by crabs (Grapsus grapsus), which occur there in large numbers. Incidentally, all three of these birds are also said to breed on Ascension Island.

While it appears that scientists, amateur radio enthusiasts and Brazilian military personnel may have been the only visitors to St. Peter and St. Paul Rocks in recent years, interestingly, these isolated islands were also visited by Charles Darwin in HMS Beagle in 1832 and by H. N. Moseley in HMS Challenger in 1879. Both naturalists reported seeing vast numbers of sea birds during those nineteenth century calls. However, multitudes of sea birds are no longer in evidence today. This may be due to human interference on the islands. A lighthouse, a radio tower, a house and a shed have been constructed on one of the islands. There is also a wooden stairway running down to a small dock area.

The decline in bird life may also be due to extensive fishing in the area by boats from Brazil. During my short visit I spotted three fishing boats working off these rocks. Captain Chiese of the Silver Shadow remarked that he was surprised to see such small fishing boats operating so far from the continent of South America.

*
www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/nt/nt1318_full.html

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Brazil
• Fernando
• de
• Noronha
• Atlantic
• Ocean
• Mid-Atlantic
• Ridge
• Silversea
• Silver
• Shadow
• St.
• Peter
• Paul
• Rocks

[NVanWendy]

I've always found the idea of a few windswept rocks that suddenly appear in the middle of the Atlantic ocean almost a bit creepy, and certainly forlorn...

[snapperxv]

The Beagle and Darwin actually visited these Rocks on Feb 16 1832. Its really good to actually be able to see these rocks, many thanks for posting.

[mcwickedawesome]

very cool. obrigado!

[sunstarfire]

So this is the place where the French airbus crashed... or close to it. Kinda lets you see why it's called a hostile environment.

[fnsio]

Dear TED000, thanks for posting this video - it's cool to see some of these far away places.

I found your video on Google Earth and I just wanted to let you know that you have placed it in the wrong geographical location. Here are the actual coordinates of the islands I got from a geological report on the islands 00º55'02"N; 29º20'42"W, if you want to update the link on Google Earth.

Thanks!

[barcalonga]

thanks for posting this - I particularly like the commentary you have put in the text. It is great to be able to see this and read of your experience in a place very few people are likely to see in person! Thanks again!

[ctwright82]

there is a small house on the largest rock.