located halfway between the 'ilha das cobras' and the niterói- rio bridge, the 'ilha das enxadas', a name which could be translated into english as 'scuffle island', is in essence a small rock which was occupied to receive several brazilian navy installations.

as such it does have an historical part in the defense of rio de janeiro and the country in general.

the island owns its name due to the presence of great numbers of treadfish, known in portuguese as 'peixe-enxada', around its shores.