The Island of Fear in the Bay of All Saints

The Island of Fear in the Bay of All Saints is full of mysteries and ghost stories.

Location and significance

This small island is one of the 56 islands that make up the Baía de Todos os Santos archipelago in the state of Bahia, Brazil.

Since 1991, Ilha do Medo and its surroundings have been part of the Ilha do Medo Ecological Station, which was established as the first ecological station in the Baía de Todos os Santos.

With a total area of 12,000 m², the small island is uninhabited and also belongs to the All Saints Bay Environmental Protection Area.

Curiosities and legends

The Island of Fear is an island of curiosity due to its intriguing name.

Despite its frightening name, Fear Island is rich in history and nature, and the “fear” probably refers to the legends and ancient stories associated with the place, which may have involved pirates, shipwrecks or mystical events over the centuries.

Biodiversity and access

The island has dense vegetation, with mangroves and protected areas that are home to a rich biodiversity.

Although less well known and visited than other islands in the Bay of All Saints, such as Ilha de Maré or Ilha de Itaparica, Ilha do Medo offers a more wild and mysterious environment, attracting explorers and nature lovers.

Access is usually by private boat from Salvador or other locations in the Bay of All Saints.

Less populated and less explored by tourists, those who visit Ilha do Medo seek tranquillity, contact with nature and, of course, to unravel the mysteries that surround the place.

Administration

Administratively, Ilha do Medo belongs to the municipality of Itaparica. It is located to the north of the island of Itaparica.

See the map of Todos os Santos Bay

Video about Fear Island

Link

Embed

Copy and paste this HTML code into your webpage to embed.

Ilha do Medo na Baía de Todos os Santos

History and legends of Fear Island

The Island of Fear has no fresh water source, which is why it has remained uninhabited. In the 19th century it was used for military purposes and served as a leper colony, the ruins of which can still be seen.

Origin of the name

The origin of the name is shrouded in mystery. According to one version, it is haunted by the ghost of a priest from Itaparica who, having refused to celebrate Mass, began to linger on the island after his death, inviting occasional visitors to stay and attend the celebration of which he was a prisoner.

Other versions say that they are the souls of the sick who were imprisoned there.

Ghost stories

According to an older account, the fishermen of the bay feared the island because they heard screams and howls at night. Their stories conjured up the souls of the Dutch who invaded Bahia and were said to have remained on the island.

It is also said that a fisherman saw a diabolical woman breathing fire from her mouth. After reporting the incident, the fisherman is said to have been left speechless.

The “ghosts” of the island are said to be the lepers who lived in an asylum in the 19th century. The intrepid can hire a boat from Ponta de Itaparica and take a look.

Tourist Guide to Bahia and the Northeast

This post is also on: