Murdeira Bay Marine Reserve (Sal)

A wide, crescent-shaped bay on the southwestern coast of Sal island, protected as a marine nature reserve covering 182 hectares of land and 5,925 hectares of sea. The reserve takes its name from the village of Murdeira at its shore. At the northwestern edge of the bay stand the steep volcanic cliff of Rabo de Junco and the small islet Ilheu Rabo de Junco, which falls within the protected area. The reserve is an important nesting habitat for loggerhead sea turtles and several seabird species, and its calm waters support rich benthic communities.