Monchique Islet

Monchique Islet

Native name: Ilhéu de Monchique
The waters around Monchique, showing the vertical prominence of the islet
Location of the island of Flores in the archipelago of the Azores
Geography
Location	Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates	39°29′42.8″N 31°16′30″W / 39.495222°N 31.27500°W / 39.495222; -31.27500
Administration
Portugal
Autonomous region	Azores

Monchique Islet (Portuguese: Ilhéu de Monchique, Portuguese pronunciation: [iˈʎɛw ðɨ mũˈʃikɨ]) is a small uninhabited islet off the coast of the island of Flores, west of the village of Fajã Grande, in the western part of the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. It is the westernmost point of Portugal and, if considered part of Europe (although it sits on the North American Plate), is Europe's westernmost point as well.

Approachable only by boat, the 43-metre (141 ft) deep bay provides opportunities for scuba diving during the day in the summer.^[1] The islet and the waters around it are protected for their rich biodiversity. Ninety-six species of flora and fauna have been identified congregating in the waters near the islet, including brown algae, limpets, barnacles, and Mediterranean rainbow wrasse.