Monchique Islet, Azores, Portugal

The Monchique Islet or Ilhéu de Monchique (31° 16' 24" W), west of the village of Fajã Grande, Flores Island, in the Portuguese archipelago of Azores, it is considered by the local community as the westernmost point of Europe. It was once an important reference for the verification and calibration of the navigational instruments on ships during the period of navigation by astronomy.

It is a solid monolith of basalt, remnants of a coastal volcanic cone, eroded by ocean forces, but extending 40-50 meters above the sea. It was formed from irregular lava flows that have produced many submarine cavities along the islet's relief. The islet is the center of a region of great biodiversity, with hundreds of species, with a Margalef index of 11.0 biodiversity. The flora along its flanks are dominated by Dictyota dichotoma, an iridescent brown algae, and there exist numerous populations of the gastropods Patella ulyssiponensis (locally referred to aslapas or "wild limpets") and Megabalanus (a species of barnacle), as well as Coris julis (Mediterranean rainbow wrasse).

(c) Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monchique_Islet