island in the S Atlantic, northeast of Natal, Brazil: with neighboring islets, part of Pernambuco state, Brazil: 10 sq mi (25.9 sq km); pop. 1,300
See Fernando de Noronha in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(fər-nănˈdō də nə-rōnˈyə, fĕr-näɴˈdo͝o də nô-rôˈnyə)
An island group in the Atlantic Ocean off the northeast coast of Brazil. A federal territory of Brazil since 1942, the islands are used as a military base and penal colony.