Ilyash-Desertas, or Desertas, is a small group of Islands which is located 25 km South-East from Ponta de são lourenço, the Eastern part of Madeira island.

Ilyash-Desertas is three long and narrow Islands – ileu Shaw, Deserta Grande and Bugio, which are located approximately between the island of Madeira and the Canary Islands. The length of this small archipelago is 23 km away. All the Islands are of volcanic origin.

Since 1995 Desertas are classified as natural protected area because of the unique natural heritage, among which are rare and endemic species. For example, the Islands are home to monk seals or white-bellied seal, which is under threat of extinction and is considered one of the rarest seal species in the world.

Ilyash-Desertas - high, long and rocky Islands on its Geology differs from Madeira, although they are close enough. These Islands are rocky, there is practically no vegetation, no population. Maybe that's why these uninhabited Islands called "Desertas", which means "desert island". The island is home to about 16 bird species, including 8 species of marine birds. Also on the island there are rare species of wild goats, rabbits and rodents, which were brought from the Portuguese sailors who first set foot on the rocky shores of the Islands. The local fauna are snakes, turtles, tarantulas and lizards.

On the island of Deserta Grande has its own water resources. However, the water is dirty and very small, all attempts to colonize the island were in vain because of the impossibility of farming on this soil and lack of water. There is an interesting legend about the fact that in 1804 the rebellious Spanish sailors buried on these Islands treasure, and on top of the chest of treasure dropped the corpse of the captain, who was killed by them during the riot, and the Ghost of captain roams the island still, guarding his treasure.