Vila Franca Islet, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal

The ocean's hidden heartbeat. Vila Franca Islet, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal

Not far from São Miguel Island in the Azores archipelago of Portugal, you'll find Vila Franca Islet. This uninhabited green islet sits quietly just south of the town of Vila Franca do Campo. Beneath its serene surface, this gem holds a lively past. Once a volcanic crater, this islet is now a protected nature reserve teeming with unique marine life, including bird species like Bulwer's petrel, little egret and sooty tern. The unique shape of this tiny island, sculpted by nature, makes it truly special. At its heart lies an almost perfectly circular lagoon, linked to the sea by a narrow channel called Boquete. Since the opening faces north toward São Miguel, it shields the lagoon from ocean waves and forms a calm natural harbour with a sandy beach.

Thousands of kilometres away, in the lush greenery of southern India, lies another ecological treasure—Kuruvadweep. Also known as Kuruva Island, it is a 3.8 square kilometre protected river delta located in Wayanad district, Kerala. Nestled along the tributaries of the Kabini River, this unique ecosystem includes three densely forested, uninhabited islands and several smaller islets that submerge during the monsoon. The islands remain untouched by human habitation and are home to a rich variety of rare birds, orchids and medicinal plants.