Historical document: Sketch of the fortifications of the Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, 1790. Source: IPHAN/PR Archives. Cited in: CORRÊA, Sandra Rafaela Magalhães; MÜHLBAUER, Clarice Futuro. Conjunto da Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres e do Morro da Baleia: Ilha do Mel – Paranaguá-PR. Brasília: IPHAN, 2021, p. 32.
Long before tourism, ecological trails and contemporary occupation, Ilha do Mel already held strategic importance along the southern coast of colonial Brazil. A rare military sketch dated 1790, preserved in the archives of IPHAN, reveals how the island was observed, defended and integrated into the maritime protection system of Paranaguá Bay more than two centuries ago.
The historical drawing depicts the Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres — also known as Fortaleza dos Prazeres — one of the most important colonial fortifications on the Paraná coast. Built in a privileged position overlooking the entrance to Paranaguá Bay, the fortress played an important defensive role during the Portuguese colonial period, helping monitor navigation routes, protect the harbor and control maritime access to the region.
More than an artistic illustration, the 1790 sketch is a technical military document. It reflects the engineering principles, territorial observation and strategic coastal planning used by Portuguese authorities during the eighteenth century. The drawing demonstrates how natural geography, elevated terrain and visual surveillance points — including the nearby Morro da Baleia — were incorporated into the defensive architecture of the Atlantic coast.
The document also reinforces the understanding that Ilha do Mel is far more than a scenic destination. The island represents a living historical landscape where biodiversity, navigation history, military engineering and cultural identity intersect. Its natural beauty cannot be separated from its historical role in the occupation, defense and interpretation of the Paraná coast.
For Ilha do Mel Nativo, preserving and sharing historical records such as this one is part of a broader mission: connecting environmental conservation with cultural heritage and scientific knowledge. Protecting Ilha do Mel means preserving not only its Atlantic Forest ecosystems, wildlife and coastal landscapes, but also the historical documents, knowledge and collective memories that help explain the importance of this territory across generations.
Historical archives such as this contribute to studies involving colonial cartography, military architecture, coastal defense systems, navigation history, Atlantic Forest cultural landscapes, environmental education and heritage preservation.
Today, the Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres remains one of the most significant historical landmarks on the Paraná coast, symbolizing the connection between nature, memory and Brazil's maritime history.
Access the complete historical document from IPHAN
Ilha do Mel Nativo
Atlantic Forest Pollinator Observatory • Environmental & Cultural Initiative • Paraná Coast, Brazil
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