It is the smallest island inpelagian archipelagoen Sicilia, and constitutes the last strip of Italian land before Tunisia. Let's talk about streetlight, the uninhabited islet located 10 nautical miles from Lampedusa (partially 18,5 km).
A place that catapults us to another dimension, where the only evidence of the passage of human beings is represented by the automatic lighthouse that dominates it and from which it takes its name, which can be reached through a path that starts from an artificial mooring. , suitable only for small boats.
According to legend, Lampione was originally a rock that escaped from the hands of a Cyclops. A narrative that contributes to making this corner of paradise a destination with unique atmospheres, whose fame is not only linked to the clear bottom of the most beautiful sea in Italy that surrounds it.
In fact, the waters around Lampione are known to be populated by sharks.
In summer, especially from mid-July to October, they gather in this portion of the mountain.'Marine Protected Area of the Pelagian Islands about forty gray sharks. This is a very rare phenomenon in
Mediterranean, which became the object of study by a group of researchers fromPalermo University, who filmed them in their natural environment for two years, documenting their behavior and interactions with divers and boaters.
Among the hypotheses about this curious aggregation in Lampione, the one that sees the island as a scene of one stands out. migration route, but it is possible that they have also chosen to gather here because of the warm waters that these specimens usually prefer.
The gray shark (scientific name Carcharhinus plumbeus) is a species harmless to humans, but it is also at risk of extinction, since it is seriously threatened by fishing activities and the destruction of its habitat.
Its presence has made the island of Lampione a paradise for divers and water lovers. “shark watching”. In fact, it is allowed to dive safely in the crystal-clear waters that surround the rocky islet, to be able to admire these majestic marine animals up close. However, we must respect a Code of conduct very specific, so as not to risk alienating and endangering them.
Specifically, it must be taken into account that diving groups must not exceed 15 people. Additionally, divers are prohibited from taking flash photographs, giving food to animals, making sudden noises or movements, or approaching sharks inside the caves.
Simple rules that can help protect the gray shark and at the same time the underwater tourism that characterizes this small corner of peace and beauty in the middle of the Sicilian Channel.
