{{Short description|Archipelago three miles from the port of Palamós, Girona Province, Catalonia, Spain}} {{Infobox islands | name = Formigues Islands | native_name = Illes Formigues | native_name_link = | native_name_lang = ca | sobriquet = | image_name = Cap de Planes i illes Formigues.jpg | image_caption = The Formigues | image_alt = | map = Catalonia | map_alt = | map_width = | map_caption = | map_relief = | label = | label_position = | coordinates = {{coord|41|51|45|N|3|11|12|E|display=inline,title}} | etymology = | location = <!-- mandatory, body of water where located --> | pop = | archipelago = | waterbody = | total_islands = 16 | major_islands = Formiga Gran | area_km2 = <!-- or |area_m2= or |area_ha= --> | area_footnotes = | rank = | length_km = <!-- or |length_m= --> | length_footnotes = | width_km = <!-- or |width_m= --> | width_footnotes = | coastline_km = <!-- or |coastline_m= --> | coastline_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_footnotes = | highest_mount = | country = Spain | country_admin_divisions_title = Community | country_admin_divisions = Catalonia | country_admin_divisions_title_1 = Municipality | country_admin_divisions_1 = Palamós and Palafrugell | demonym = | population = 0 | population_as_of = | population_footnotes = | population_rank = | population_rank_max = | density_km2 = | density_rank = | density_footnotes = | ethnic_groups = | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | website = | additional_info = }} {{About-distinguish2|an archipelago in Catalonia, Spain|the similarly-named archipelago Formigas in the Azores, Portugal}} The '''Formigues Islands''' ({{langx|ca|Illes Formigues}}, {{langx|es|Islas Formigues}}) is an archipelago consisting of 16 small islands located three miles ({{convert|3|mi|abbr=out|disp=output only}})from the port of Palamós, Girona Province, Catalonia, Spain. They lie facing the beach of Calella and Cap Roig. A lighthouse is located on the island of '''Formiga Gran''' (41º53'N 03º11'E). The islands are sometimes covered by waves when the sea is rough. The name of the islands is derived from the Catalan word for “ant,” referring to their size.
Administratively, they are divided between the municipalities of Palamós and Palafrugell.<ref name="divisio">{{cite web|url=http://www.diaridegirona.cat/comarques/2011/10/18/illes-formigues-seguiran-pertanyent-palamos-palafrugell/523245.html|title=Les Illes Formigues seguiran pertanyent a Palamós i Palafrugell|editor=Diari de Girona|date=18 October 2011}}</ref>
The depths around the Formigues vary from {{convert|9|m|0|abbr=off}} deep to more than {{convert|45|m|0|abbr=off}} deep. The islands consist mostly of calcareous rock, with various caves and crags filled with rich marine vegetation, especially multicolored sea fans.
The Battle of Les Formigues took place in the islands in 1285.
The Spanish Ministry of the Natural, Rural and Marine Environment planned to declare the islands a nature reserve in 2009, prohibiting fishing in a designated area of 420 hectares.<ref name="carranco">{{cite news|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cataluna/nueva/reserva/islas/Formigues/prohibe/pesca/420/hectareas/elpepiespcat/20091208elpcat_6/Tes|author=Rebeca Carranco|title= La nueva reserva de las islas Formigues prohíbe la pesca en 420 hectáreas|date=12 August 2009 |newspaper=El Pais|accessdate=12 January 2012}}</ref> However, this was halted due to budgetary concerns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diaridegirona.cat/comarques/2011/08/03/lestat-aparca-reserva-formigues-no-diners/505750.html|title=L´Estat aparca la reserva de les Formigues perquè no té diners|editor=Diari de Girona|date=18 October 2011}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Archipelagoes of Spain Category:Uninhabited islands of Spain Category:Marine reserves of Spain Category:Landforms of Catalonia
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