Azores - wikipedia Azores This article is about the archipelago. For the area of high pressure, see Azores High. Azores ( Açores ) Autonomous Region ( Região Autónoma ) Mount Pico and the green landscape, emblematic of the archipelago of the Azores Flag Coat of arms Official name : Região Autónoma dos Açores Name origin : açor, Portuguese for the northern goshawk ( Accipiter gentilis, pt : Açor ), a species of raptor Motto : Antes morrer livres que em paz sujeitos ( English : `` Rather die free than subjected in peace '' ) Country Portugal Autonomous Region Azores Region Atlantic Ocean Subregion Mid-Atlantic Ridge Position Azores Platform Islands Corvo, Faial, Flores, Graciosa, Pico, São Jorge, São Miguel, Santa Maria, Terceira Municipalities Angra do Heroísmo, Calheta, Horta, Lagoa, Lajes das Flores, Lajes do Pico, Madalena, Nordeste, Povoação, Praia da Vitória, Ponta Delgada, Ribeira Grande, Santa Cruz da Graciosa, Santa Cruz das Flores, São Roque, Velas, Vila do Corvo, Vila do Porto, Vila Franca do Campo Capital cities Angra do Heroísmo, Horta, Ponta Delgada Largest city Ponta Delgada - center São José - elevation 22 m ( 72 ft ) - coordinates 37 ° 44 ′ 28 '' N 25 ° 40 ′ 32 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 37.74111 ° N 25.67556 ° W ﻿ / 37.74111 ; - 25.67556 Coordinates : 37 ° 44 ′ 28 '' N 25 ° 40 ′ 32 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 37.74111 ° N 25.67556 ° W ﻿ / 37.74111 ; - 25.67556 Highest point Mount Pico - elevation 2,351 m ( 7,713 ft ) - coordinates 38 ° 28 ′ 19 '' N 28 ° 51 ′ 50 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 38.47194 ° N 28.86389 ° W ﻿ / 38.47194 ; - 28.86389 Lowest point Sea level - location Atlantic Ocean - elevation 0 m ( 0 ft ) Area 2,333 km ( 901 sq mi ) Population 245,746 ( 2012 ) Census 2011 Density 105.87 / km ( 274 / sq mi ) Settlement 15 August 1432 - Administrative autonomy c. 1895 - Political autonomy 4 September 1976 Discovery c. 1427 - Santa Maria c. 1427 - São Miguel c. 1428 Management - location Assembleia Regional, Rua Marcelino Lima, Horta, Faial - elevation 46 m ( 151 ft ) - coordinates 38 ° 32 ′ 6 '' N 28 ° 37 ′ 51 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 38.53500 ° N 28.63083 ° W ﻿ / 38.53500 ; - 28.63083 Government - location Palácio de Santana, Rua José Jácome Correia, Ponta Delgada, São Miguel - elevation 60 m ( 197 ft ) - coordinates 37 ° 44 ′ 52 '' N 25 ° 40 ′ 19 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 37.74778 ° N 25.67194 ° W ﻿ / 37.74778 ; - 25.67194 President ( Government ) Vasco Cordeiro ( PS ) - President ( Assembleia ) Ana Luís ( PS ) Timezone AZOT ( UTC − 1 ) - summer ( DST ) AZOST ( UTC ) ISO 3166 - 2 code PT - 20 Postal code 9XXX - XXX Area code ( + 351 ) 29X XX XX XX ccTLD. pt Date format dd - mm - yyyy Drives on the right Demonym Azorean Patron Saint Espírito Santo Holiday 51st day ( Monday ) following Easter ( Dia da Região Autónoma dos Açores ) Anthem A Portuguesa ( national ) Hino dos Açores ( regional ) Currency Euro ( € ) GDP ( nominal ) 2013 - Total € 3,694 million - Per capita € 14,900 Location of the Azores relative to Portugal ( green ) and the rest of the European Union ( dark blue ) Distribution of the islands of the archipelago Wikimedia Commons : Azores Statistics : Instituto Nacional de Estatística Website : www.azores.gov.pt Geographic detail from CAOP ( 2010 ) produced by Instituto Geográfico Português ( IGP ) The Azores ( / əˈzɔːrz / ə - ZORZ or / ˈeɪzɔːrz / AY - zorz ; Portuguese : Açores, ( ɐˈsoɾɨʃ ) ), officially the Autonomous Region of the Azores ( Região Autónoma dos Açores ), is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal ( along with Madeira ( Região Autónoma da Madeira ). It is an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean about 1,360 km ( 850 mi ) west of continental Portugal, about 1,643 km ( 1,021 mi ) west of Lisbon, in continental Portugal, about 1,507 km ( 936 mi ) northwest of Morocco, and about 1,925 km ( 1,196 mi ) southeast of Newfoundland, Canada. Its main industries are agriculture, dairy farming, livestock, fishing, and tourism, which is becoming the major service activity in the region. In addition, the government of the Azores employs a large percentage of the population directly or indirectly in the service and tertiary sectors. The main settlement of the Azores is Ponta Delgada. There are nine major Azorean islands and an islet cluster, in three main groups. These are Flores and Corvo, to the west ; Graciosa, Terceira, São Jorge, Pico, and Faial in the centre ; and São Miguel, Santa Maria, and the Formigas Reef to the east. They extend for more than 600 km ( 370 mi ) and lie in a northwest - southeast direction. All the islands have volcanic origins, although some, such as Santa Maria, have had no recorded activity since the islands were settled. Mount Pico, on the island of Pico, is the highest point in Portugal, at 2,351 m ( 7,713 ft ). If measured from their base at the bottom of the ocean to their peaks, which thrust high above the surface of the Atlantic, the Azores are actually some of the tallest mountains on the planet. The climate of the Azores is very mild for such a northerly location, being influenced by its distance from the continents and by the passing Gulf Stream. Due to the marine influence, temperatures remain mild year - round. Daytime temperatures normally fluctuate between 16 ° C ( 61 ° F ) and 25 ° C ( 77 ° F ) depending on season. Temperatures above 30 ° C ( 86 ° F ) or below 3 ° C ( 37 ° F ) are unknown in the major population centres. It is also generally wet and cloudy. The culture, dialect, cuisine, and traditions of the Azorean islands vary considerably, because these once - uninhabited and remote islands were settled sporadically over a span of two centuries. Contents 1 History 1.1 European discovery 1.2 Settlement 1.3 Iberian Union 1.4 Liberal Wars 1.5 Modern times 2 Geography 2.1 Physical geography 2.2 Biome 2.3 Climate 2.3. 1 Hurricanes 3 Demographics 3.1 Population 3.2 Genetics 3.3 Emigration 4 Politics 5 Transport 5.1 Aviation 5.2 Marine transport 6 Culture 7 See also 8 References 8.1 Notes 8.2 Sources 9 External links History Main article : History of the Azores A small number of alleged hypogea, earthen structures carved into rocks that were used for burials, have been identified on the islands of Corvo, Santa Maria and Terceira by Portuguese archaeologist Nuno Ribeiro, who speculated that they might date back 2000 years, alluding to a human presence on the island before the Portuguese. These kinds of structures have been used in the Azores to store cereals, however, and suggestions by Ribeiro that they might be burial sites are unconfirmed. Detailed examination and dating to authenticate the validity of these speculations is lacking. It is unclear whether these structures are natural or man - made and whether they predate the 15th - century Portuguese colonization of the Azores. Solid confirmation of a pre-Portuguese human presence in the archipelago has not yet been published. European discovery 1584 map of the Azores. The islands were known in the fourteenth century, and parts of them appear in the Atlas Catalan. In 1427, a captain sailing for Henry the Navigator, possibly Gonçalo Velho, may have rediscovered the Azores, but this is not certain. In Thomas Ashe 's 1813 work, A History of the Azores, the author identified a Fleming, Joshua Vander Berg of Bruges, who made landfall in the archipelago during a storm on his way to Lisbon. He stated that the Portuguese explored the area and claimed it for Portugal. Other stories note the discovery of the first islands ( São Miguel Island, Santa Maria Island and Terceira Island ) by sailors in the service of Henry the Navigator, although there are few documents to support the claims. Although it is commonly said that the archipelago received its name from the goshawk ( Açor in Portuguese ), a common bird at the time of discovery, it is unlikely that the bird nested or hunted in the islands. Settlement This section includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help to improve this section by introducing more precise citations. ( April 2013 ) Angra do Heroísmo, the oldest continuously settled town in the archipelago of the Azores and UNESCO World Heritage Site There were no large animals on Santa Maria, so after its discovery and before settlement began, sheep were let loose on the island to supply future settlers with food. Settlement did not take place right away, however. There was not much interest among the Portuguese people in an isolated archipelago so far from civilization. Gonçalo Velho Cabral patiently gathered resources and settlers for the next three years ( 1433 -- 1436 ), however, and sailed to establish colonies first on Santa Maria and then on São Miguel. Settlers cleared bush and rocks to plant crops -- grain, grape vines, sugar cane, and other plants suitable for local use and of commercial value. They brought domesticated animals, such as chickens, rabbits, cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs and built houses and established villages. The archipelago was largely settled from mainland Portugal. Portuguese settlers came from the provinces of Algarve, Minho, Alentejo and Ribatejo as well as Madeira. São Miguel was first settled in 1449, the settlers -- mainly from the Estremadura, Alto Alentejo and Algarve areas of mainland Portugal, under the command of Gonçalo Velho Cabral -- landed at the site of modern - day Povoação. Many early settlers were Portuguese Sephardic Jews who fled the pressures of inquisition in mainland Portugal. In 1522 Vila Franca do Campo, then the capital of the island, was devastated by an earthquake and landslide that killed about 5,000 people, and the capital was moved to Ponta Delgada. The town of Vila Franca do Campo was rebuilt on the original site and today is a thriving fishing and yachting port. Ponta Delgada received its city status in 1546. From the first settlement, the pioneers applied themselves to agriculture and by the 15th century Graciosa exported wheat, barley, wine and brandy. The goods were sent to Terceira largely because of the proximity of the island. During the 18th and 19th century, Graciosa was host to many prominent figures, including Chateaubriand, the French writer who passed through upon his escape to America during the French revolution ; Almeida Garrett, the Portuguese poet who visited an uncle and wrote some poetry while there ; and Prince Albert of Monaco, the 19th century oceanographer who led several expeditions in the waters of the Azores. He arrived on his yacht Hirondelle, and visited the furna da caldeira, the noted hot springs grotto. In 1869, the author Mark Twain published The Innocents Abroad, a travel book, where he described his time in the Azores. The first reference to the island of São Jorge was made in 1439 but the actual date of discovery is unknown. In 1443 the island was already inhabited but active settlement only began with the arrival of the noble Flemish native Wilhelm Van der Haegen. Arriving at Topo, where he lived and died, he became known as Guilherme da Silveira to the islanders. João Vaz Corte - Real received the captaincy of the island in 1483. Velas became a town before the end of the 15th century. By 1490, there were 2,000 Flemings living in the islands of Terceira, Pico, Faial, São Jorge and Flores. Because there was such a large Flemish settlement, the Azores became known as the Flemish Islands or the Isles of Flanders. Prince Henry the Navigator was responsible for this settlement. His sister, Isabel, was married to Duke Philip of Burgundy of which Flanders was a part. There was a revolt against Philip 's rule and disease and hunger became rampant. Isabel appealed to Henry to allow some of the unruly Flemings to settle in the Azores. He granted this and supplied them with the necessary transportation and goods. The settlement of the then - unoccupied islands started in 1439 with people mainly from the continental provinces of Algarve and Alentejo. In 1583, Philip II of Spain, as king of Portugal, sent his fleet to clear the Azores of a combined multinational force of adventurers, mercenaries, volunteers and soldiers who were attempting to establish the Azores as a staging post for a rival pretender to the Portuguese throne. Following the success of his fleet at the Battle of Ponta Delgada captured enemies were hanged from yardarms, as they were considered pirates by Philip II. Opponents receiving the news variously portrayed Philip II as a despot or `` Black Legend '' ; the sort of insult widely made against contemporary monarchs engaged in aggressive empire building and the European Wars of Religion. An English raid of the Azores in 1589 successfully plundered some harbouring ships and islands ; a repeat eight years later, the Islands Voyage, failed. Spain held the Azores under the `` Babylonian captivity '' of 1580 -- 1642. In the late 16th century, the Azores and Madeira began to face problems of overpopulation. Spawning from that particular economic problem, some of the people began to emigrate to Brazil. Iberian Union Main article : Conquest of the Azores Following the death of Henry, the Cardinal - King of Portugal the nation fell into a dynastic crisis with various pretenders to the Crown of Portugal. Following his proclamation in Santarém, António, Prior of Crato was acclaimed in the Azores in 1580 ( through his envoy António da Costa ), but was expelled from the continent following the Battle of Alcântara. Yet, through the administration of Cipriano de Figueiredo, governor of Terceira ( who continued to govern Terceira in the name of ill - fated, former - king Sebastian of Portugal ), the Azoreans resisted attempts to conquer the islands ( including specifically at the Battle of Salga ). It was Figueiredo and Violante do Canto who helped organize a resistance on Terceira that influenced some of the response of the other islands, even as internal politics and support for Philip 's faction increased on the other islands ( including specifically on São Miguel, where the Gonçalvez da Câmara family supported the Spanish pretender ). The Azores were the last part of the Portuguese Empire to resist Philip 's reign over Portugal ( Macau resisted any official recognition ) and were returned to Portuguese control with the end of the Iberian Union in 1640, not by the professional military, who were used in the Restoration War in the mainland, but by local people attacking a fortified Castilian garrison. Liberal Wars This section includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help to improve this section by introducing more precise citations. ( April 2013 ) The Portuguese Civil War ( 1828 -- 1834 ) had strong repercussions in the Azores. In 1829, in Praia da Vitória, the Liberals won over the absolutists, making Terceira Island the main headquarters of the new Portuguese regime and also where the Council of Regency ( Conselho de Regência ) of Maria II of Portugal was established. Beginning in 1868, Portugal issued its stamps overprinted with `` AÇORES '' for use in the islands. Between 1892 and 1906, it also issued separate stamps for the three administrative districts of the time. From 1836 to 1976, the archipelago was divided into three districts, equivalent ( except in area ) to those in the Portuguese mainland. The division was arbitrary, and did not follow the natural island groups, rather reflecting the location of each district capital on the three main cities ( none of which were on the western group ). Angra do Heroísmo consisted of Terceira, São Jorge, and Graciosa, with the capital at Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira. Horta consisted of Pico, Faial, Flores, and Corvo, with the capital at Horta on Faial. Ponta Delgada consisted of São Miguel and Santa Maria, with the capital at Ponta Delgada on São Miguel. Modern times In 1931 the Azores ( together with Madeira and Portuguese Guinea ) revolted against the Ditadura Nacional and were held briefly by military rebels. In 1943, during World War II, the Portuguese ruler António de Oliveira Salazar leased air and naval bases in the Azores to Great Britain. The occupation of these facilities in October 1943 was codenamed Operation Alacrity by the British. This was a key turning point in the Battle of the Atlantic, enabling the Royal Air Force, the U.S. Army Air Forces, and the U.S. Navy to provide aerial coverage in the Mid-Atlantic gap. This helped them to protect convoys and to hunt hostile German U-boats. In 1944, the U.S. constructed a small and short - lived air base on the island of Santa Maria. In 1945, a new base was constructed on the island of Terceira, and it is named Lajes Field. This air base is in an area called Lajes, a broad, flat sea terrace that had been a large farm. Lajes Field is a plateau rising out of the sea on the northeast corner of the island. This air base is a joint American and Portuguese venture. Lajes Field continues to support the American and Portuguese Armed Forces. During the Cold War, U.S. Navy P - 3 Orion antisubmarine warfare squadrons patrolled the North Atlantic Ocean for Soviet Navy submarines and surface warships. Since its opening, Lajes Field has been used for refuelling American cargo planes bound for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The U.S. Navy keeps a small squadron of its ships at the harbor of Praia da Vitória, three kilometres ( 1.9 miles ) southeast of Lajes Field. The airfield also has a small commercial terminal handling scheduled and chartered passenger flights from the other islands in the Azores, Europe, Africa, and North America. In 1976, the Azores became the Autonomous Region of the Azores ( Região Autónoma dos Açores ), one of the autonomous regions of Portugal, and the subdistricts of the Azores were eliminated. In 2003, the Azores saw international attention when United States President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar and Portuguese Prime Minister José Manuel Durão Barroso held a summit there days before the commencement of the Iraq War. Geography Physical geography Map of the Azores Surface areas of the islands of the archipelago Island Area km sq mi São Miguel 759 293 Pico 446 172 Terceira 403 156 São Jorge 246 95 Faial 173 67 Flores 143 55 Santa Maria 97 37 Graciosa 62 24 Corvo 17 7 The archipelago of the Azores is located in the middle of the northern hemisphere of the Atlantic Ocean and extends along a west - northwest to east - southeast orientation ( between 36.5 ° -- 40 ° North latitudes and 24.5 ° -- 31.5 ° West longitudes ) in an area approximately 600 kilometres ( 373 miles ) wide. The islands of the Azores emerged from what is called the Azores Platform, a 5.8 million km region that is morphologically accented by a depth of 2,000 metres ( 6,600 feet ). From a geostructural perspective the Azores is located above an active triple junction between three of the world 's large tectonic plates ( the North American Plate, the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate ), a condition that has translated into the existence of many faults and fractures in this region of the Atlantic. The westernmost islands of the archipelago ( Corvo and Flores ) are located in the North American Plate, while the remaining islands are located within the boundary that divides the Eurasian and African Plates. The principal tectonic structures that exist in the region of the Azores are the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Terceira Rift, the Azores Fracture Zone and the Glória Fault. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is the main frontier between the American Plate and the African - Eurasian Plates that crosses the Azores Platform between the islands of Flores and Faial from north to south then to the southwest ; it is an extensive form crossed by many transform faults running perpendicular to its north - south orientation, that is seismically active and susceptible to volcanism. The Terceira Rift is a system of fractures that extends from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge to the Glória Fault that represents the main frontier between the Eurasian and African Plates. It is defined by a line of submarine volcanoes and island mounts that extend northwest to southeast for about 550 kilometres ( 342 miles ), from the area west of Graciosa until the islets of the Formigas, that includes the islands of Graciosa, Terceira and São Miguel. Its northwest limit connects to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, while the southeast section intersects the Gloria Fault southeast of the island of Santa Maria. The Azores Fracture Zone extends from the Glória Fault and encompasses a relatively inactive area to the south of the islands of the Central and Eastern groups north to the Terceira Rift, along a 45 ° angle. The Glória Fault, for its part, extends 800 kilometres ( 497 miles ) along a linear line from the Azores to the Azores -- Gibraltar Transform Fault. The interior of the island of Flores, showing Lagoa Funda and Lagoa Rasa, in the municipality of Lajes The island 's volcanism is associated with the rifting along the Azores Triple Junction ; the spread of the crust along the existing faults and fractures has produced many of the active volcanic and seismic events, while supported by buoyant upwelling in the deeper mantle, some associate with an Azores hotspot. Most of the volcanic activity has centered, primarily, along the Terceira Rift. From the beginning of the island 's settlement, around the 15th century, there have been 28 registered volcanic eruptions ( 15 terrestrial and 13 submarine ). The last significant volcanic eruption, the Capelinhos volcano ( Vulcão dos Capelinhos ), occurred off the coast of the island of Faial in 1957 ; the most recent volcanic activity occurred in the seamounts and submarine volcanoes off the coast of Serreta and in the Pico - São Jorge Channel. The islands have many examples of volcano - built geomorphology including many of the caves and subterranean lava tubes ( such as the Gruta das Torres, Algar do Carvão, Gruta do Natal, Gruta das Cinco Ribeiras ), the coastal lava fields ( like the coast of Feteiras, Faial, the Mistério of Prainha or São João on Pico Island ) in addition to the currently inactive cones in central São Miguel Island, the aforementioned Capelinhos on Faial, the volcanic complexes of Terceira or Plinian caldeira of Corvo Island. One of the Flemish - inspired windmills that still dot the landscape of the Azores ( this on the island of Graciosa ) Perspective of Mount Pico, the highest mountain / summit in the Azores and Portugal, as seen from the island of São Jorge. The islands of the archipelago were formed through volcanic and seismic activity during the Neogene Period ; the first embryonic surfaces started to appear in the waters of Santa Maria during the Miocene epoch ( from circa 8 million years ago ). The sequence of the island formation has been generally characterized as : Santa Maria ( 8.12 Ma ), São Miguel ( 4.1 Ma ), Terceira ( 3.52 Ma ), Graciosa ( 2.5 Ma ), Flores ( 2.16 Ma ), Faial ( 0.7 Ma ), São Jorge ( 0.55 Ma ), Corvo ( 0.7 Ma ) and the youngest, Pico ( 0.27 Ma ). Although all islands have experienced volcanism during their geological history, within recorded `` human settlement '' history the islands of Santa Maria, Graciosa, Flores, and Corvo have not experienced any volcanic eruptions ; in addition to active fumaroles and hot - springs, the remaining islands have had sporadic eruptions since the 14th century. Apart from the Capelinhos volcano in 1957 -- 58, the last recorded instance of `` island formation '' occurred off the coast of São Miguel, when the island of Sabrina was briefly formed. Owing to its geodynamic environment, the region has been center of intense seismic activity, particularly along its tectonic boundaries on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Terceira Rift. Seismic events although frequent, usually tectonic or vulco - tectonic in nature, but in general low to medium intensities, occasionally punctuated by events of level 5 or greater on the Richter magnitude scale. The most severe earthquake was registered in 1757, near Calheta on the island of São Jorge, which exceeded 7 on the Richter magnitude scale. In comparison, the 1522 earthquake that was mentioned by historian Gaspar Frutuoso measured 6.8, but its effects were judged to be X ( Extreme ) on the Mercalli intensity scale, and was responsible for the destruction of Vila Franca do Campo and landslides that may have killed more than 5,000 of the inhabitants. This section includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help to improve this section by introducing more precise citations. ( April 2013 ) The nine islands that compose the archipelago occupy a surface area of 2,346 km ( 906 sq mi ), that includes both the main islands and many islets located in their vicinities. Each of the islands have their own distinct geomorphological characteristics that make them unique : Corvo ( the smallest island ) is a crater of a major Plinian eruption ; Flores ( its neighbor on the North American Plate ) is a rugged island carved by many valleys and escarpments ; Faial characterized for its shield volcano and caldera ( Cabeço Gordo ) ; Pico, is the highest point, at 2,351 meters ( 7,713 ft ), in the Azores and continental Portugal ; Graciosa is known for its active Furnas do Enxofre and mixture of volcanic cones and plains ; São Jorge is a long slender island, formed from fissural eruptions over thousands of years ; Terceira, almost circular, is the location of one of the largest craters in the region ; São Miguel is the largest island, and is pitted with many large craters and fields of spatter cones ; and Santa Maria, the oldest island, is heavily eroded, being one of the few places to encounter brown sandy beaches in the archipelago. They range in surface area from the largest, São Miguel, at 759 km ( 293 sq mi ) to the smallest, Corvo, at approximately 17 km ( 7 sq mi ). These islands can be divided into three recognizable groups located on the Azores Platform : The Eastern Group ( Grupo Oriental ) of São Miguel, Santa Maria and Formigas Islets The Central Group ( Grupo Central ) of Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico and Faial The Western Group ( Grupo Ocidental ) of Flores and Corvo. In addition, several sub-surface reefs ( particularly the Dollabarat on the fringe of the Formigas ), banks ( specifically the Princess Alice Bank and D. João de Castro Bank, as well as many hydrothermal vents and sea - mounts are monitored by the regional authorities, owing to the complex geotectonic and socioeconomic significance within the economic exclusion zone of the archipelago. The grand cliffs of the island of São Jorge, formed by fissural volcanism. Biome The archipelago lies in the Palearctic ecozone, forming a unique biome that includes the macaronesian subtropical laurissilva, with many endemic species of plants and animals. In total, there are at least, 6112 terrestrial species, of which about 411 are endemic. The majority ( 75 % ) of these endemics are animals, mostly arthropods and mollusks. New species are found regularly in the Azores ( e.g., 30 different new species of land snails were discovered circa 2013 ). Typical roadside hedgerow of hydrangeas on Terceira, the Azores. Even though the Azores look very green and sometimes wild, the vegetation has been extremely altered. A great part of it has been wiped out in the past 600 years for its valuable wood ( for tools, buildings, boats, fire wood, and so on ) and to clear land for agriculture. As a result, it is estimated that more than half of insects on the Graciosa island have disappeared or will become extinct. Many cultivated places ( which are traditionally dedicated to pasture or to growing colocasia, potatoes, maize and other crops ) have now been abandoned, especially as a result of emigration. Consequently, some invasive plants have filled these deserted and disturbed lands. Hydrangeas are another potential pest, but their threat is less serious. Notwithstanding the fact that hydrangeas were introduced from America or Asia, some locals consider them a symbol of the archipelago and propagate them along roadsides, helping the plants to escape into the wild. Cryptomeria, the Japanese cedar, is a conifer extensively grown for its timber. The two most common of these alien species are Pittosporum undulatum and Acacia melanoxylon. They are usually restricted to ancient agricultural land and only rarely penetrate into undisturbed native vegetation. Reforestation efforts with native laurissilva vegetation have been done successfully in many parts of the Azores. The Azores has two endemic bird species. The Azores bullfinch, or Priolo, is restricted to remnant laurisilva forest in the mountains at the eastern end of São Miguel and is classified by BirdLife International as endangered. Monteiro 's storm - petrel, described to science as recently as 2008, is known to breed in just two locations in the islands, but may occur more widely. An extinct species of owl, the São Miguel scops owl, has also recently been described, which probably became extinct after human settlement due to habitat destruction and the introduction of alien species. The Azores also has an endemic bat, the Azores noctule, which is unusual in regularly feeding during the day. The islets of the Formigas ( the Portuguese word for `` ants '' ), including the area known as the Dollabarat Reef, have a rich environment of maritime species, such as black coral and manta rays, different species of sharks, whales, and sea turtles. On São Miguel there are notable micro-habitats formed by hot springs that host extremophile microorganisms. 17 new marine reserves ( with special conservation status ) were added to the Azorean Marine Park ( which covers currently around 900.000 km ) Climate The northern coast of the island of São Miguel around Capelas and São Vicente ( between Ribeira Grande and Ponta Delgada ). The archipelago is spread out in the area between 37 ° N and the parallels of latitude that pass through the Lisbon area ( 38 ° 43 ' / 38 ° 55 ' N ), giving it generally a tepid, oceanic, subtropical climate, with mild annual oscillations. Daily maximum temperatures usually range between 15 and 25 ° C ( 59 and 77 ° F ). The average annual rainfall increases from east to west, and it ranges from 700 to 1600 annual millimetres ( 27.6 -- 63 in ) on average, reaching 6,300 millimetres ( 250 in ) on Mount Pico, the highest Portuguese mountain at 2,351 m ( 7,713 ft ). The Azores High, an area of high atmospheric pressure, is named after the islands. Under the Köppen climate classification, there are different local climates, one of it is `` dry - summer subtropical '', often referred to as `` Mediterranean ''. Rivas Martinez data, presents several different bioclimatic zones for the Azores Seasonal lag is extreme in the low - sun half of the year, with December being milder than April in terms of mean temperatures. Azores have the warmest winters in Europe ( still within the European continental plate ). During summer the lag is somewhat lower, with August being the warmest month. There has never been a frost, snowfall or freeze ever recorded at sea level on any of the islands. The coldest weather in winter usually occurs in a north westerly airmass with its origins from Labrador in Canada, but even then due to its passage across the warmer Atlantic Ocean still allows temperatures by day even then to exceed 10C. hide Climate data for Ponta Delgada Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high ° C ( ° F ) 20.2 ( 68.4 ) 20.4 ( 68.7 ) 22.8 ( 73 ) 22.6 ( 72.7 ) 23.2 ( 73.8 ) 25.6 ( 78.1 ) 28.2 ( 82.8 ) 28.8 ( 83.8 ) 28.6 ( 83.5 ) 26.2 ( 79.2 ) 25.5 ( 77.9 ) 22.6 ( 72.7 ) 28.8 ( 83.8 ) Average high ° C ( ° F ) 16.8 ( 62.2 ) 16.6 ( 61.9 ) 17.0 ( 62.6 ) 17.7 ( 63.9 ) 19.1 ( 66.4 ) 21.4 ( 70.5 ) 23.9 ( 75 ) 25.3 ( 77.5 ) 24.3 ( 75.7 ) 21.9 ( 71.4 ) 19.4 ( 66.9 ) 17.8 ( 64 ) 20.1 ( 68.2 ) Average low ° C ( ° F ) 12.2 ( 54 ) 11.5 ( 52.7 ) 12.0 ( 53.6 ) 12.3 ( 54.1 ) 13.6 ( 56.5 ) 15.8 ( 60.4 ) 17.8 ( 64 ) 19.0 ( 66.2 ) 18.4 ( 65.1 ) 16.5 ( 61.7 ) 14.3 ( 57.7 ) 12.9 ( 55.2 ) 14.7 ( 58.5 ) Record low ° C ( ° F ) 4.4 ( 39.9 ) 3.7 ( 38.7 ) 4.2 ( 39.6 ) 5.5 ( 41.9 ) 6.6 ( 43.9 ) 8.3 ( 46.9 ) 12.0 ( 53.6 ) 13.0 ( 55.4 ) 12.2 ( 54 ) 10.4 ( 50.7 ) 7.6 ( 45.7 ) 6.2 ( 43.2 ) 3.7 ( 38.7 ) Average precipitation mm ( inches ) 96.9 ( 3.815 ) 84.0 ( 3.307 ) 87.7 ( 3.453 ) 76.7 ( 3.02 ) 72.0 ( 2.835 ) 39.6 ( 1.559 ) 26.6 ( 1.047 ) 46.1 ( 1.815 ) 91.9 ( 3.618 ) 108.5 ( 4.272 ) 108.7 ( 4.28 ) 146.9 ( 5.783 ) 985.6 ( 38.804 ) Mean monthly sunshine hours 97 103 120 141 174 163 208 213 175 142 109 93 1,738 Source # 1 : Instituto de Meteorologia Source # 2 : NOAA ( sun, 1961 -- 1990 ) Flores, Azores, Portugal In addition, the Instituto de Meteorologia has identified the following weather extremes : Highest minimum air temperature : 24.3 ° C ( 75.7 ° F ), in Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira ( 30 June 1996 ) Lowest minimum air temperature : − 3.5 ° C ( 25.7 ° F ), in Chã das Lagoinhas, São Miguel ( 2 January 1973 ) Highest maximum air temperature : 39.0 ° C ( 102.2 ° F ), in July ( Exact date and location unknown ) Lowest maximum air temperature : 4.0 ° C ( 39.2 ° F ), Chã das Lagoinhas, São Miguel ( 20 February 1972 ) Maximum precipitation in 24 hours : 276 mm ( 10.87 in ), Furnas, São Miguel ( 3 October 1974 ) Maximum wind speed : > 168 km / hour, Angra do Heroísmo, ( Terceira 2 November 1995 ) Hurricanes The Azores are known for small hurricanes. A total of 14 tropical or subtropical cyclones have affected the region in history. Most of them were either extratropical or tropical storms when they impacted the region, although several Category 1 hurricanes have reached the Azores. Only one major hurricane has ever impacted the Azores ; Hurricane Ophelia in 2017, at Category 3 intensity. The following storms have impacted the region while at Category 1 strength : Hurricane Fran in 1973, Hurricane Emmy in 1976, Hurricane Gordon in 2006, Hurricane Gordon in 2012 and Hurricane Alex in 2016. Several tropical storms have hit the region, including Tropical Storm Irma in 1978, Hurricane Bonnie in 1992, Hurricane Charley in 1992, Hurricane Erika in 1997, and Hurricane Gaston in 2016. Storms that were extratropical when they impacted the region include Hurricane Tanya in 1995, Tropical Storm Ana in 2003 and Tropical Storm Grace in 2009. In addition, the 2005 Azores subtropical storm impacted the region in October 2005. Demographics This section includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help to improve this section by introducing more precise citations. ( April 2013 ) The Azores are divided into 19 municipalities ( concelhos ) ; each municipality is further divided into parishes ( freguesias ), of which there is a total of 156 in all of the Azores. The municipalities, by island, are : Island Group Population Local Administrative Units Main Settlement 2011 % Total No Municipalities ( Concelho ) São Miguel Eastern 137,830 55.86 6 Lagoa, Nordeste, Ponta Delgada, Povoação, Ribeira Grande, Vila Franca do Campo Ponta Delgada Terceira Central 56,437 22.87 Angra do Heroísmo, Praia da Vitória Angra do Heroísmo Faial Central 14,994 6.08 Horta Horta Pico Central 14,148 5.73 Lajes do Pico, Madalena, São Roque do Pico São Roque do Pico São Jorge Central 9,171 3.72 Calheta, Velas Velas Santa Maria Eastern 5,552 2.25 Vila do Porto Vila do Porto Graciosa Central 4,391 1.78 Santa Cruz da Graciosa Santa Cruz da Graciosa Flores Western 3,793 1.54 Lajes das Flores, Santa Cruz das Flores Santa Cruz das Flores Corvo Western 430 0.17 Vila do Corvo Vila do Corvo Total 246,746 19 There are six cities ( Portuguese : cidades ) in the Azores : Ponta Delgada, Lagoa and Ribeira Grande on the island of São Miguel ; Angra do Heroísmo and Praia da Vitória on the island of Terceira, and Horta on Faial. Three of these, Ponta Delgada, Angra and Horta are considered capital / administrative cities to the regional government : homes to the President ( Ponta Delgada ), the Judiciary ( Angra ) and the Regional Assembly ( Horta ). Angra also serves as the ecclesiastical centre of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Angra, the episcopal see of the Azores. Panoramic view near São Mateus, Terceira, June 2004 Population Fajã Grande, the westernmost village in the Azores, Portugal and Europe According to the 2011 Census, population in the Azores was 246,746 at a density of 106 inhabitants per square kilometre ( 270 / sq mi ). The Azores were uninhabited when Portuguese navigators arrived in the early 15th century ; the settlement process was initiated in 1439 with individuals from various regions of mainland Portugal and from Madeira. The islands were populated mainly by Portuguese descendants immigrants from Algarve, Alentejo, and Minho ; in an effort to escape the dangers of the Portuguese inquisition on mainland Portugal, however, many Portuguese Sephardic Jews settled on the islands in large numbers. Azorean Jews had surnames such as : Rodrigues, Oliveira, Pereira, Pimentel, Nunes, Mendes, Álvares, Henriques, Cardozo, Teixeira, etc. The islands were also settled by Moorish prisoners, and African slaves from Guinea, Cape Verde and São Tomé ; Flemish, French and Galicians also contributed to the initial settlement. Thus the Azorean population received a significant contribution from people with genetic backgrounds other than Portuguese. The nature of the economy dictated that African slavery never became common in the Azores because they were sent to Brazil and the Caribbean. Only a few remained in the Azores to help with domestic chores, although the islands sometimes served as a waypoint for ships carrying African slaves. Africans, Moors, Jews, Scots, Germans, Italians, French, Spanish, Flemish and Portuguese all migrated to the Azores. Genetics See also : Chinese people in Portugal A main street in Angra do Heroísmo ( a UNESCO heritage site ) and provincial capital of the island of Terceira. As in continental Portugal, the most frequent mtDNA haplogroup in the Azores is H ( 45.2 % ), followed by U ( 16.7 % ), T ( 10.1 % ), K ( 6.5 % ), pre-HV clades ( 5.6 % ) and a smaller African L haplogroups frequency ( 3.4 % ) than in Madeira. Inhabitants of the various islands have DNA of various origins. So only a minority on the islands has non European ancestry. Emigration Since the 17th century, many Azoreans have emigrated, mainly to Brazil, Uruguay, the United States and Canada. Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, especially the cities of New Bedford, Bristol, Barrington, Pawtucket, Central Falls, West Warwick, Hudson, Marlborough, East Providence, River Point, Somerset, Taunton and Fall River have been, and remain, the primary destination for Azorean emigrants. Emigrants from the East coast returned to their homeland and taught the American dory fishing technique to the Portuguese who began catching cod again on the Grand Bank in the 19th century. Northern California was the final destination for many of the Massachusetts immigrants who then moved on to the San Joaquin Valley, especially the city of Turlock, just south of Modesto. In the late 1800s many Azoreans emigrated to the Hawaiian islands. The tuna fishing industry drew a significant number of Azoreans to the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego, in Southern California. From 1921 to 1977, about 250,000 Azoreans immigrated to Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Many Azoreans also moved to Bermuda and Hawaii ( Portuguese immigration to Hawaii ). Florianópolis and Porto Alegre in the Southern Region of Brazil were founded by Azoreans, who accounted for over half of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina 's population in the late 18th century. As late as 1960 mass immigration currents were registered to Brazil, and many were from the Azores. Politics This section includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help to improve this section by introducing more precise citations. ( April 2013 ) Main article : Political status of the Azores Horta was a waypoint in trans - Atlantic yachts and shipping ; today it is the home of the Azorean regional parliament and capital of the island of Faial. Map of the European Union in the world with overseas countries and territories and outermost regions Since 1976, the Azores is an autonomous region integrated within the framework of the Portuguese Republic. It has its own government and autonomous legislature within its own political - administrative statute and organic law. Its governmental organs include : the Legislative Assembly, a unicameral parliament composed of 52 elected deputies, elected by universal suffrage for a four - year term ; the Regional Government and Presidency, with parliamentary legitimacy, composed of a President, a Vice-President and seven Regional Secretaries responsible for day - to - day operations. It is represented in the Council of Ministers by a representative appointed by the President of the Republic, which was created during the revision of the constitution of 2004 ( which, among other things, removed the older Portuguese representative that was appointed by the President of the Republic, beholden to the Council of State and coincident with the President ). Since becoming a Portuguese autonomous region, the executive branch of the regional authority has been located in Ponta Delgada, the legislative branch in Horta, and the judicial branch in Angra do Heroísmo. The islands of the archipelago do not have independent status in law, except in electoral law and are governed by 19 municipalities that subdivide the islands. In addition, until the administrative reform of the 19th century, the following civil parishes had municipal standing : Topo ( today integrated into the municipality of Calheta, São Jorge ) ; Praia ( today integrated into municipality of Santa Cruz da Graciosa ) ; São Sebastião ( today an integral part of the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo ) ; Capelas ( now part of the municipality of Ponta Delgada ) ; and Água de Pau ( now a civil parish in the municipality of Lagoa ). These civil parishes still retain their titles of `` vila '' in name only ; the populations of Capelas and neighbouring parish still protest the change and promote the restoration of their status. The municipalities are further subdivided into several civil parishes, with the exception of Corvo ( the only municipality by law without a civil parish, owing to its size ). Azorean politics is dominated by the two largest Portuguese political parties, the Social Democratic Party ( PSD ) and the Socialist Party ( PS ), the latter holding a majority in the Regional Legislative Assembly. The Democratic and Social Center / People 's Party ( CDS / PP ), the Left Bloc ( BE ), the Unitarian Democratic Coalition ( CDU ) and the People 's Monarchist Party ( PPM ) are also represented in the local parliament. Currently, as of the 2008 Regional Elections, the Socialist Party ( PS ) and its leader, Carlos César have a plurality of the seats in the Assembly, and operate the Regional Government. Although the PS dominates the regional politics, the PSD is traditionally popular in city and town council elections. Transport Aviation Main article : Aviation in the Azores Each of the nine islands has an airfield, although the majority are airfields rather than airports. The commercial terminals in Ponta Delgada, Horta, Vila do Porto and Santa Cruz das Flores are operated by ANA -- Aeroportos de Portugal, a public entity that oversees the operations of airports across Portugal. The remaining, except for Lajes Field, are operated by the Regional Government. Lajes is a military airbase, as well as a commercial airport, and is operated by the Portuguese Armed Forces in conjunction with the United States. The airports are : Santa Maria : Santa Maria Airport ( LPAZ ) Sao Miguel : João Paulo II Airport ( LPPD ) Terceira : Lajes Field ( LPLA ) Lajes Air Base ( Portuguese Airforce and United States Air Force ) Sao Jorge : São Jorge Airport ( LPSJ ) Pico : Pico Airport ( LPPI ) Faial : Horta Airport ( LPHR ) Graciosa : Graciosa Airport ( LPGR ) Flores : Flores Airport ( LPFL ) Corvo : Corvo Airport ( LPCR ) Marine transport The Azores has had a long history of water transport to overcome distances and establish inter-community contacts and trade. Consequently, the shipbuilding industry developed in many islands, from small fishing boats, to whaling sloops to larger passenger services. Passenger traffic to the main islands ( São Miguel, Santa Maria, Terceira and Faial ) began in the 17th century, and between the 18th -- 19th century, the Pico Yacht controlled the lucrative summer traffic season. After 1871, the Insulana Shipping Company was the only entity responsible for regular traffic between the islands ( except Corvo ), Madeira and the United States. Yet, cargo and passenger transportation ceased in the 1970s, and the ships were sold or converted into tuna fishing boats. For the next 20 years, commercial maritime service between the islands ceased ( except between Faial - Pico and Lajes das Flores - Vila do Corvo ). Transmaçor ( Transportes Marítimos Açorianos, Lda. ) was founded on 22 December 1987, resulting from the fusion of Empresa das Lanchas do Pico, Ld, owners of the ships Espalamaca and Calheta ( ships that had travelled the canal between Faial and Pico for several years ) ; Empresa Açoreana de Transportes Marítimos, Lda, which operated the ship Terra Alta ; and Transcanal ( Transportes Marítimos do Canal, Lda. ) operator the traditional boats Picaroto and Manuel José. In the Central Group, the shipping company operates four to six time daily connections between Horta and Madalena throughout the year, using its small fleet of ships ( Cruzeiro das Ilhas, Cruzeiro do Canal, Expresso das Ilhas and Expresso do Triângulo ), in addition to inter-island connections between Faial, Pico, São Jorge and Terceira during the summer months. Meanwhile, new initiatives began in the late 1990s : the catamaran Iapetos began services, followed by Lady of Mann and Golfinho Azul ( chartered by Açorline ). In 2005, Atlânticoline was established, providing services with the ships Ilha Azul and Express Santorini, later adding the Viking in 2009. In 2009, Atlanticoline was involved in a controversial rejection of a 750 - passenger, 150 - vehicle ship ordered from the Estaleiros de Viana do Castelo ( Viana do Castelo Shipyards ). The Atlantida, a 50 million Euro cruiser ( as part of a two - ship deal with the other named Anticiclone ) was rejected in 2009 by Atlanticoline for the under - performance of the power - plant. Although it would only result in a five - minute delay between islands, the public company rejected the ship, and the contract was broken over the builder 's inability to deliver the required ship on time. While, the ship was being shopped to other interested parties ( Hugo Chávez once considered purchasing the ferryboat in 2010 ), no interested buyers appeared, and ENVC decided to cede the Atlantida to Atlânticoline as part of the latter 's open international competition to charter two ships in 2012. On 20 June 2011, the Regional Government announced that it would purchase 60 % of Transmaçor, equivalent to 500,000 Euro of the company 's capital. With this transaction the Autonomous government of the Azores ceded control, of which it once had 88 % of the capital. The signed memorandum of understanding concluded negotiations between the various parties involved, under which the liability of Transmaçor ( worth a total of 8 million Euro ) was divided equally between the Region and businessman José Almeida, who is now the holder of a majority stake in the company. Similarly, the Regional Government approved the consolidation of the three individual port authorities ( Administração dos Portos do Triângulo e Grupo Ocidental, Administração dos Portos da Terceira e Graciosa and the Administração dos Portos das Ilhas de São Miguel e Santa Maria ) and regional Portos dos Açores into one entity that resulted in a 2.2 million Euro cost savings, in addition to a reduction from 11 to three administrators. Culture This section includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help to improve this section by introducing more precise citations. ( April 2013 ) The Festival of the Lord Holy Christ of the Miracles, in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island. Azoreans have developed their own distinct regional identity and cultural traits, from a combination of continental Portuguese customs brought by various waves of immigration and local political and environmental factors. Religious festivals, patron saints and traditional holidays mark the Azorean calendar. The most important religious events are tied with the festivals associated with the cult of the Holy Spirit, commonly referred to as the festivals of the Holy Spirit ( or Espírito Santo ), rooted in millenarian dogma and held on all islands from May to September. These festivals are very important to the Azorean people, who are primarily Roman Catholic, and combine religious rituals with processions celebrating the benevolence and egalitarianism of neighbours. These events are centred around treatros or impérios, small buildings that host the meals, adoration and charity of the participants, and used to store the artefacts associated with the events. On Terceira, for example, these impérios have grown into ornate buildings painted and cared for by the local brotherhoods in their respective parishes. The events focus on the members of local parishes, not tourists, but all are welcome, as sharing is one of the main principles of the festivals. Some limited events focus on tourists, including a public event that the city government of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel holds, which attracts visitors and locals. The solemn procession of the Lord Holy Christ of the Miracles. Another event, the Festival of the Lord Holy Christ of the Miracles ( or Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres ) in Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel, is the largest individual religious event in the Azores, and takes place on Rogation Sunday. Pilgrims from within the Portuguese diaspora normally travel to Ponta Delgada to participate in an afternoon procession behind the image of Christ along the flower - decorated streets of the city. Although the solemn procession is only held on one day, the events of the Festival of Senhor Santo Cristo occur over a period of a week and involve a ritual of moving the image between the main church and convent nightly, ultimately culminating in the procession, which is televised within the Azores and to the Portuguese diaspora. The Sanjoaninas Festivities in Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira are held in June honoring Saint Anthony, Saint Peter and Saint John the Baptist, in a large religious celebration. The illuminated Convent and Shrine of the Lord Holy Christ of the Miracles. The festival of Our Lady of Lourdes ( or Nossa Senhora de Lourdes ), patron saint of whalers, begins in Lajes on Pico Island on the last Sunday of August and runs through the week -- Whalers Week. It is marked by social and cultural events connected to the tradition of whale hunting. The Wine Harvest Festival ( or Festa das Vindimas ), takes place during the first week of September and is a century - old custom of the people of Pico. On Corvo the people celebrate their patron saint Nossa Senhora dos Milagres ( Our Lady of Miracles ) on 15 August every year in addition to the festivals of the Divine Holy Spirit. The Festival da Maré de Agosto ( August Sea Festival ), takes place every year beginning on 15 August in Praia Formosa on Santa Maria. Also, the Semana do Mar ( Sea Week ), dedicated almost exclusively to water sports, takes place in August in the city of Horta, on Faial. Carnaval is also celebrated in the Azores. Parades and pageants are the heart of the Carnaval festivities. There is lively music, colorful costumes, hand - made masks, and floats. The traditional bullfights in the bullring are ongoing as is the running of bulls in the streets. 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Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2009. Jump up ^ Lurdes C. da Silva 22 August 2008 ( 22 August 2008 ). `` Mass. - Azores links inked ''. O Jornal. Retrieved 5 May 2009. Jump up ^ SILVA, A.J.M. ( 2015 ), The fable of the cod and the promised sea. About portuguese traditions of bacalhau, in BARATA, F. T - and ROCHA, J.M. ( eds. ), Heritages and Memories from the Sea, Proceedings of the 1st International Conference of the UNESCO Chair in Intangible Heritage and Traditional Know - How : Linking Heritage, 14 -- 16 January 2015. University of Evora, Évora, pp. 130 -- 143. PDF version Jump up ^ Orbach, Michael K. ( 1977 ). Hunters, Seamen, and Entrepreneurs : The Tuna Seinermen of San Diego. University of California Press. p. 7. ISBN 978 - 0 - 520 - 03348 - 1. Jump up ^ `` Azorean Immigration into the United States '' Archived 3 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine... Library.csustan.edu. ^ Jump up to : Russell King, John Connell ( 1999 ). Small worlds, global lives : islands and migration. Continuum International Publishing Group. pp. 61 -- 65. ISBN 1 - 85567 - 548 - X Jump up ^ Imigrantes : Açorianos Archived 31 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` Flughäfen in Portugal ( PT ) ''. Flugplaetze.org. Retrieved 7 July 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` atlanticoline.pt : History '' ( in Portuguese ). Ponta Delgada ( Azores ), Portugal : Atlânticoline. 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2011. ^ Jump up to : Transmaçor, ed. ( 2010 ). `` Transmaçor -- Transportes Marítimos Açorianos, Lda '' ( in Portuguese ). Horta ( Azores ), Portugal : Transportes Marítimos Açorianos, Lda. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Jump up ^ The societies and companies comprise 80 % of the capital, with the remaining shares owned by the Azores Regional Government. ^ Jump up to : Agência Lusa / AO online / Hoje ( 28 August 2012 ). `` '' Atlântida '' está há um ano ancorado em Lisboa e ainda sem destino '' ( in Portuguese ). Ponta Delgada ( Azores ), Portugal. Retrieved 28 August 2012. ^ Jump up to : Lusa ( 20 June 2011 ). AO Online, ed. `` Concluídas negociações para compra da Transmaçor '' ( in Portuguese ). Retrieved 21 June 2011. Jump up ^ Pinheiro, Maria ( 8 June 2011 ). `` Portos dos Açores -- Fusão administrativa aprovada na Assembleia Regional '' ( in Portuguese ). Horta, Portugal : Tribuna das Ilhas. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2011. Sources Costa, Antonieta ( 2007 ). Pelo sinal do Espírito Santo By the sign of the Holy Spirit. Angra do Heroísmo : Presidência do Governo Reginal dos Açores. Direcção Regional da Cultural. pp. 120p. Twain, Mark ( 1869 ). The Innocents Abroad, or the New Pilgrims Progress. Hartford, CT : American Publishing Co. OCLC 1047562. Dervenn, Claude ( 1956 ). The Azores : with 104 photographs in photogravure and a map. Translated by Bryans, Robin. London : George G. Harrap and Co. Dervenn, Claude ( 1957 ). Madeira. Translated by Hogarth - Gaute, Frances. London : George G. Harrap and Co. Lourenço, N. ; Miranda, J.M. ; Luis, J.F. ; Ribeiros, A. ; Mendes Victor, L.A. ; Madeira, J. ; H. Needham ( 1998 ). Morpho - tectonic analysis of the Azores Volcanic Plateau from a new bathymetric compilation of the area. 20. Marine Geophysical Researches. pp. 141 -- 156. Luís, J.F. ; Miranda, J.M ; Galdeano, A. ; Patriat, P. ; Rossignol, J.C. and L.A. Mendes Victor ( 1994 ). The Azores triple junction evolution since 10 Ma from an aeromagnetic survey of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. 125. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. pp. 439 -- 459. Madeira, J. ( 1998 ). Estudos de neotectónica nas ilhas do Faial, Pico e S. Jorge : uma contribuição para o conhecimento geodinâmico da junção tripla dos Açores ( Neotectonic studies on the islands of Faial, Pico and S. Jorge : a contribution to the geodynamic knowledge in the triple junction of the Açores ) ( in Portuguese ). Lisbon : Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa. Ridley, W. ; Watkins, N. and D. Macfarlane ( 1974 ). `` The oceanic islands : Azores ''. In E. Nairn and F. Stehli. The ocean basins and margins. New York : Plenum Press. pp. 445 -- 478. CS1 maint : Uses editors parameter ( link ) Upper mantle structure beneath the Azores hotspot from finite - frequency seismic tomography. 260. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 2006. pp. 11 -- 26. Needham, H ; J. Francheteau ( 1974 ). Some characteristics of the rift valley in the Atlantic Ocean near 36o48 ' north. 22. Earth Planetary Science Letters. pp. 29 -- 43. Ferreira, António de Brum ( 2005 ). `` Geodinâmica e perigosidade natural nas ilhas dos Açores '' ( Geodynamics and Natural Risks on the Islands of the Azores ). Finisterra ( in Portuguese ). XL ( 79 ) : 013 -- 120. Carine, Mark ; Schaefer, Hanno ( 2010 ). `` The Azores diversity enigma : why are there so few Azorean endemic flowering plants and why are they so widespread ? ''. Journal of Biogeography. 37 ( 1 ) : 77 -- 89. doi : 10.1111 / j. 1365 - 2699.2009. 02181. x. `` Centro de Vulcanologia e Avaliação de Riscos Geológicos : Observatório Vulcanológica e Sismológico da Universidade dos Açores ''. Centro de Vulcanologia e Avaliação de Riscos Geológicos ( CVARG ). 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2010. Machado, Adriane ; Azevedo, José M.M. ; Alemeida, Delia P.M. ; Farid Chemale Jr. ( 2008 ). `` Geochemistry of Volcanic Rocks from Faial Island ( Azores ) '' ( PDF ). 5, 1. Lisbon : e-Terra, GEOTIC -- Sociedade Geológica de Portugal : 1 -- 14. R.C. Mitchell - Thomé ( 1980 ). `` Some geomorphological aspects of the Azores Archipelago '' ( PDF ). Finistrerra : Revista Portuguesa de Geografia. Lisbon, Portugal : Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, University of Lisbon. XV ( 30 ) : 201 -- 219. Scammell, G.V. ( 1989 ). The First Imperial Age. London : Unwin Hyman. pp. 51 -- 70. External links Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Azores. Wikimedia Atlas of the Azores Media related to Azores at Wikimedia Commons Azores travel guide from Wikivoyage Azores Regional Government ( in Portuguese ) Official tourism site Autonomous Region of the Azores Grupo Oriental ( Eastern Group ) Santa Maria São Miguel Grupo Central ( Central Group ) Faial Graciosa Pico São Jorge Terceira Grupo Ocidental ( Western Group ) Corvo Flores Islets Baixo Cabras Formigas Fradinhos Madalena Monchique Mosteiros Praia Rosais Sabrina Topo Vila Franca Caves and geological features Algar do Carvão Gruta das Torres Gruta do Carvão Reefs, banks and seamounts Dollabarat Reef D. João de Castro Bank Princess Alice Bank Hydrothermal vents and seamounts of the Azores Municipalities of the Azores Autonomous Region Corvo Vila do Corvo Faial Horta Flores Lajes das Flores Santa Cruz das Flores Graciosa Santa Cruz da Graciosa Pico Lajes do Pico Madalena São Roque do Pico Santa Maria Vila do Porto São Jorge Calheta Velas São Miguel Lagoa Nordeste Ponta Delgada Povoação Ribeira Grande Vila Franca do Campo Terceira Angra do Heroísmo Praia da Vitória Geographic locale Statistical divisions of Portugal Norte Region Metropolitan areas Porto Intermunicipal communities Alto Minho Alto Tâmega Ave Cávado Douro Tâmega e Sousa Terras de Trás - os - Montes Centro Region Intermunicipal communities Beira Baixa Beiras e Serra da Estrela Médio Tejo Oeste Região de Aveiro Região de Coimbra Região de Leiria Viseu Dão Lafões Lisboa Region Metropolitan areas Lisbon Alentejo Region Intermunicipal communities Alentejo Litoral Alentejo Central Alto Alentejo Baixo Alentejo Lezíria do Tejo Algarve Region Intermunicipal communities Algarve Autonomous Regions Azores Madeira All these divisions are further subdivided into municipalities and parishes. Districts and autonomous regions of Portugal Districts Aveiro Beja Braga Bragança Castelo Branco Coimbra Évora Faro Guarda Leiria Lisboa Portalegre Porto Santarém Setúbal Viana do Castelo Vila Real Viseu Autonomous regions Azores Madeira Outlying territories of European countries Territories under European sovereignty but closer to or on continents other than Europe ( see inclusion criteria for further information ). Denmark Greenland France Clipperton Island French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern and Antarctic Lands Adélie Land Crozet Islands Île Amsterdam Île Saint - Paul Kerguelen Islands Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean Guadeloupe Martinique Mayotte New Caledonia Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Wallis and Futuna Italy Pantelleria Pelagie Islands Lampedusa Lampione Linosa Netherlands Aruba Caribbean Netherlands Bonaire Saba Sint Eustatius Curaçao Sint Maarten Norway Bouvet Island Peter I Island Queen Maud Land Portugal Azores Madeira Spain Canary Islands Ceuta Melilla Plazas de soberanía Chafarinas Islands Alhucemas Islands Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera United Kingdom Anguilla Bermuda British Antarctic Territory British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Falkland Islands Montserrat Pitcairn Islands Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Turks and Caicos Islands International membership Portuguese overseas empire North Africa 15th century 1415 -- 1640 Ceuta 1458 -- 1550 Alcácer Ceguer ( El Qsar es Seghir ) 1471 -- 1550 Arzila ( Asilah ) 1471 -- 1662 Tangier 1485 -- 1550 Mazagan ( El Jadida ) 1487 -- 16th century Ouadane 1488 -- 1541 Safim ( Safi ) 1489 Graciosa 16th century 1505 -- 1541 Santa Cruz do Cabo de Gué ( Agadir ) 1506 -- 1525 Mogador ( Essaouira ) 1506 -- 1525 Aguz ( Souira Guedima ) 1506 -- 1769 Mazagan ( El Jadida ) 1513 -- 1541 Azamor ( Azemmour ) 1515 -- 1541 São João da Mamora ( Mehdya ) 1577 -- 1589 Arzila ( Asilah ) Sub-Saharan Africa 15th century 1455 -- 1633 Anguim 1462 -- 1975 Cape Verde 1470 -- 1975 São Tomé 1471 -- 1975 Príncipe 1474 -- 1778 Annobón 1478 -- 1778 Fernando Poo ( Bioko ) 1482 -- 1637 Elmina ( São Jorge da Mina ) 1482 -- 1642 Portuguese Gold Coast 1508 -- 1547 Madagascar 1498 -- 1540 Mascarene Islands 16th century 1500 -- 1630 Malindi 1501 -- 1975 Portuguese Mozambique 1502 -- 1659 Saint Helena 1503 -- 1698 Zanzibar 1505 -- 1512 Quíloa ( Kilwa ) 1506 -- 1511 Socotra 1557 -- 1578 Accra 1575 -- 1975 Portuguese Angola 1588 -- 1974 Cacheu 1593 -- 1698 Mombassa ( Mombasa ) 17th century 1645 -- 1888 Ziguinchor 1680 -- 1961 São João Baptista de Ajudá 1687 -- 1974 Bissau 18th century 1728 -- 1729 Mombassa ( Mombasa ) 1753 -- 1975 Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe 19th century 1879 -- 1974 Portuguese Guinea 1885 -- 1974 Portuguese Congo Part of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1753. Or 1600. A factory ( Anosy Region ) and small temporary coastal bases. Part of Portuguese Guinea from 1879. Part of Portuguese Angola from the 1920s. Middle East ( Persian Gulf ) 16th century 1506 -- 1615 Gamru ( Bandar Abbas ) 1507 -- 1643 Sohar 1515 -- 1622 Hormuz ( Ormus ) 1515 -- 1648 Quriyat 1515 -- ? Qalhat 1515 -- 1650 Muscat 1515 ? -- ? Barka 1515 -- 1633 ? Julfar ( Ras al - Khaimah ) 1521 -- 1602 Bahrain ( Muharraq Manama ) 1521 -- 1529 ? Qatif 1521 ? -- 1551 ? Tarut Island 1550 -- 1551 Qatif 1588 -- 1648 Matrah 17th century 1620 -- ? Khor Fakkan 1621 ? -- ? As Sib 1621 -- 1622 Qeshm 1623 -- ? Khasab 1623 -- ? Libedia 1624 -- ? Kalba 1624 -- ? Madha 1624 -- 1648 Dibba Al - Hisn 1624 ? -- ? Bandar - e Kong Indian subcontinent 15th century 1498 -- 1545 Laccadive Islands ( Lakshadweep ) 16th century Portuguese India 1500 -- 1663 Cochim ( Kochi ) 1501 -- 1663 Cannanore ( Kannur ) 1502 -- 1658 1659 -- 1661 Quilon ( Coulão / Kollam ) 1502 -- 1661 Pallipuram ( Cochin de Cima ) 1507 -- 1657 Negapatam ( Nagapatnam ) 1510 -- 1961 Goa 1512 -- 1525 1750 Calicut ( Kozhikode ) 1518 -- 1619 Portuguese Paliacate outpost ( Pulicat ) 1521 -- 1740 Chaul ( Portuguese India ) 1523 -- 1662 Mylapore 1528 -- 1666 Chittagong ( Porto Grande De Bengala ) 1531 -- 1571 Chaul 1531 -- 1571 Chalé 1534 -- 1601 Salsette Island 1534 -- 1661 Bombay ( Mumbai ) 1535 Ponnani 1535 -- 1739 Baçaím ( Vasai - Virar ) 1536 -- 1662 Cranganore ( Kodungallur ) 1540 -- 1612 Surat 1548 -- 1658 Tuticorin ( Thoothukudi ) 1559 -- 1961 Daman and Diu 1568 -- 1659 Mangalore ( Portuguese India ) 1579 -- 1632 Hugli 1598 -- 1610 Masulipatnam ( Machilipatnam ) 1518 -- 1521 Maldives 1518 -- 1658 Portuguese Ceylon ( Sri Lanka ) 1558 -- 1573 Maldives 17th century Portuguese India 1687 -- 1749 Mylapore 18th century Portuguese India 1779 -- 1954 Dadra and Nagar Haveli East Asia and Oceania 16th century 1511 -- 1641 Portuguese Malacca ( Malaysia ) 1512 -- 1621 Maluku ( Indonesia ) 1522 -- 1575 Ternate 1576 -- 1605 Ambon 1578 -- 1650 Tidore 1512 -- 1665 Makassar 1557 -- 1999 Macau ( China ) 1580 -- 1586 Nagasaki ( Japan ) 17th century 1642 -- 1975 Portuguese Timor ( East Timor ) 19th century Portuguese Macau 1864 -- 1999 Coloane 1851 -- 1999 Taipa 1890 -- 1999 Ilha Verde 20th century Portuguese Macau 1938 -- 1941 Lapa and Montanha ( Hengqin ) 1975 is the year of East Timor 's Declaration of Independence and subsequent invasion by Indonesia. In 2002, East Timor 's independence was fully recognized. North America & North Atlantic 15th century ( Atlantic islands ) 1420 Madeira 1432 Azores 16th century ( Canada ) 1500 -- 1579 ? Terra Nova ( Newfoundland ) 1500 -- 1579 ? Labrador 1516 -- 1579 ? 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Question: where is the azores located on the map
Answer: in the North Atlantic Ocean about 1,360 km (850 mi) west of continental Portugal, about 1,643 km (1,021 mi) west of Lisbon, in continental Portugal, about 1,507 km (936 mi) northwest of Morocco, and about 1,925 km (1,196 mi) southeast of Newfoundland, Canada