Lampione Island in Lampedusa
The Island of Lampione is the smallest island of the Archipelago of the Pelagie, today uninhabited even though it is said that two hermits lived there in the past. Currently, the only sign of the passage of man is an automatic lighthouse from which the island takes its name. The lighthouse can be reached by walking along a path that starts from the small artificial dock. The stretches of coast on the southern side of the island drop sheer to the sea while those on the eastern side slope gently, showing channels of white sandstone scarcely covered with vegetation. The waters surrounding the islet are clear and the seabed rich in marine flora and fauna.
The sea surrounding Lampione Island is also populated by sharks. In the period from July to October, a few dozen gray sharks gather, a very rare phenomenon in the Mediterranean.
Administratively, the island belongs to the Pelagie Islands, while geologically it belongs to the African continental plate as well as Lampedusa. It has been hypothesized that it was formed following an earthquake in the Pliocene due to detachment from Lampedusa.
It is possible to reach the islet through organized excursions by boat or from diving centers.
