Back جزيرة الأفاعي Arabic جزيره الافاعى ARZ ইলহা দা কুইমাদা গ্ৰাণ্ডে Assamese Keymada Qrandi adası Azerbaijani ایلان آداسی (برزیل) AZB ইলহা দা কুইমাদা গ্রান্ডে Bengali/Bangla Illa de Queimada Grande Catalan Ilha Queimada Grande (pulo sa Brasil, São Paulo) CEB Queimada Grande Czech Queimada Grande German

Ilha da Queimada Grande

For other islands named Snake Island, see Snake Island.
Ilha da Queimada Grande
Nickname: Snake Island
Aerial view of Ilha da Queimada Grande
Ilha da Queimada Grande is located in Brazil
Ilha da Queimada Grande
Ilha da Queimada Grande
Location of Ilha da Queimada Grande in Brazil
Geography
LocationAtlantic Ocean
Coordinates24°29′10″S 46°40′30″W / 24.48611°S 46.67500°W / -24.48611; -46.67500
Area430,000 m2 (4,600,000 sq ft)
Highest elevation206 m (676 ft)
Administration
StateState of São Paulo
MunicipalityItanhaém
Administered byChico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio)
Demographics
Population0

Ilha da Queimada Grande, more commonly referred to as Snake Island, is an island off the coast of Brazil in the Atlantic Ocean. The island became famous for its abundant snakes, hence the name "Snake Island." It is administered as part of the municipality of Itanhaém in the State of São Paulo. The island is small, with an area of only 43 hectares (106 acres), and has a temperate climate. Its terrain varies from bare rock to rainforest.

The island is the only natural home of the critically endangered, venomous Bothrops insularis (golden lancehead pit viper), which has a diet of birds. The snakes became trapped on the island thousands of years ago following the end of the last ice age when rising ocean levels disconnected the island from the mainland. The ensuing evolutionary pressure allowed the snakes to adapt to their new environment, increasing rapidly in population and rendering the island dangerous to public visitation.

Queimada Grande is closed to the public for the protection of both people and snakes; access is available only to the Brazilian Navy and selected researchers vetted by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, the Brazilian federal conservation unit.[1][2][3]

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