Isola delle Femmine
| Isola delle Femmine | ||
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| Waters | Tyrrhenian Sea | |
| Geographical location | 38 ° 12 '36 " N , 13 ° 14' 9" E | |
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| length | 500 m | |
| width | 250 m | |
| surface | 13 ha | |
| Residents | uninhabited | |
Isola delle Femmine is a small island off the north coast of Sicily . It belongs to the municipality of Isola delle Femmine , which is named after the island.
The island has an elongated shape, it is about 500 m long and 250 m wide. At the highest point are the remains of a medieval watchtower, the torre di fuori , which, together with the torre di terra on the mainland, secured the defense of the city and was destroyed in the Second World War.
The origin of the name, in its current meaning “Fraueninsel”, is assumed to be based on a folk etymological formation from the name Eufemio . Legends are told about the origin of the name, which tell of a women's prison. Another legend tells of an asylum from their husbands of damn Turkish women who built the tower themselves. After the relatives forgave them, they settled with them on the mainland and founded Capaci .
In fact, the island was used for tuna fishing by fishermen from Capaci. In addition to a tonnara, there was also a small chapel on the island. These buildings fell into disrepair as early as the 19th century.
The island is not inhabited by humans, but is populated by rabbits and mice, ruin lizards and yellow-green angry snakes. The island is home to one of the largest colonies of the Mediterranean gull in the Tyrrhenian Sea . Common buzzards and peregrine falcons are among the birds of prey that frequent the island. It is an important resting place for various migratory birds, including the cormorant , gray and little egrets , kingfishers , black redstart , crested lark and wagtail . There is also a not inconsiderable insect fauna.
The submarine life around the island gathers numerous species, in addition to large areas of Neptune grasses there are around 100 species of algae and an abundant fauna with corals, starfish, mussels, squids; the abundance of plankton and the favorable ocean currents also attract pelagic fish such as yellowtail mackerel and sunfish .
The island is under nature protection as Riserva naturale Isola delle Femmine , the surrounding sea belongs to the area Marina Protetta Capo Gallo - Isola delle Femmine .