Faial Island

Faial Island (European Portuguese pronunciation: [fɐˈjal]), also known as Fayal Island, is a Portuguese island of the Central Group or Grupo Central of the Azores, in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Capelinhos Volcano is the westernmost point of the island and is considered the westernmost point of Europe other than the Monchique Islet.
The largest town on the island is Horta with a population of approximately 15,000 inhabitants.
The nearby islands of Pico and São Jorge form an area commonly known as the Triângulo or Triangle.
Faial Island has also been referred to as the Ilha Azul or Blue Island, a name derived from the writings of Portuguese poet Raul Brandão describing the large number of hydrangeas that bloom during the summer months:
During the Middle Ages, the island of Faial appeared on the 1375 Catalan Atlas as Ilha da Ventura or Insula de La Ventura, meaning Venture Island. By 1427, islands in the middle of the Atlantic had been discovered by Portuguese navigators. During his first voyage of exploration (1451), the navigator Diogo de Teive explored the coast of Faial.
The humanist friar Gaspar Frutuoso recounted that the first explorers did not find an uninhabited island, and that a hermit, who had a small flock and lived in a cave in the interior, had occupied the land.
By 1460, nautical charts referred to this island as Ilha de São Luis. Around this time, Valentim Fernandes da Morávia, a German intellectual and translator residing in Lisbon, gave the first account relating to the settlement of the island. He wrote that Friar Pedro, the queen's confessor, traveled with the Infanta Isabella of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy, to Flanders, where he met and developed a friendship with the nobleman Josse van Huerter. During their conversations, D. Pedro talked to van Huerter about the islands and their deposits of silver and tin (which he assumed were the Ilhas Cassitérides, or in English, the Islands of Tin). Van Huerter convinced 15 other men of the profitability of a venture in the archipelago.
Around 1465, Huerter disembarked for the first time on Faial along the beach of Praia de Almofariz (now Praia do Almoxarife). The expedition remained in the area of Lomba dos Frades for about a year, until their supplies ran out. His compatriots were angered by the lack of the promised precious metals, and van Huerter quickly escaped to Flanders and the court of the Duchess of Burgundy.
In 1467, Huerter returned to Faial on a new expedition, supported by the Duchess, who "ordered men and women of all conditions, as well as priests to convey their religious orders, in addition to ships loaded with furniture and utensils necessary for the land and construction of houses, and she sent them for two years, with everything they needed for subsistence" (according to a caption made by the German geographer Martin Behaim on the Nuremberg Globe). Valentim Fernandes also noted that Isabella had ordered civil criminals to be deported to the island. Infante D. Fernando, the Duke of Viseu and Master of the Order of Christ, gave Van Huerter the title of Captain-Major of the island. Immediately, the new colonists faced challenges due to a lack of potable water. They moved their settlement to the adjacent valley (which continues to bear the name of Flamengos, the Portuguese term for Flemish or literally, Flemish people). Van Huerter constructed a small chapel, consecrated in the name of Santa Cruz (Holy Cross). He eventually returned temporarily to Lisbon, where he married Beatriz de Macedo, the governess of the Duke of Viseu. Still an apt negotiator, he returned to Faial promoting the settlement of the colony and his holdings. He convinced a second group of settlers, under the Flemish nobleman Willem van der Haegen (later known as Guilherme da Silveira) to bring his compatriots, their families, and support staff to the island in 1467.
The settlers concentrated in the area of Conceição and Porto Pim, creating the nuclei of the Vila de Orta (later the Vila de Horta), a name transliterated from the surname of Josse van Huerter. By 1490, this Flemish community numbered approximately 1,500 people and was joined by several families from the Alentejo, Moinho and other islands in the archipelago. The rapid growth of the island, in this phase, was the result of the cultivation of wheat, and the growth in the woad industry. It was some time later, when the island's name changed to "Fayal", due to a large number of Faya trees (Myrica faya). With the island's improving economy, more Portuguese settled and rapidly the Flemish influence diminished.
In 1583, as part of the Spanish occupation of the Azores (which began with a landing party on Terceira), a Spanish fleet was sent to Faial. During the expeditionary assault, a body of armed men landed at Pasteleiro and engaged the defenders. Although reinforced by French troops, the garrison was unable to fend off the invaders. During the Iberian Union of Portugal and Spain, the island was frequently attacked by British and French pirates. Raiding parties from the Earl of Cumberland (George Clifford) and Earl of Essex (Robert Devereaux) attacked the defenseless populations between 1589 and 1597. This was partly due to the influx of Spaniards to the islands, as opportunities for Iberian businessmen improved. The privateers robbed the inhabitants and burned what they left behind, not differentiating between Portuguese and Spanish people or properties. To protect themselves, the Faialense built a large number of fortresses; in the 18th century, there were more than 20. Meanwhile, offshore from Faial, on 22/23 June 1594, in what became known as the Battle of Faial Island or the action of Faial, three ships of the Earl of Cumberland attacked the 2,000-ton Portuguese carrack Cinco Chagas, which historians believe to be the richest treasure ship ever to sail from the East Indies, firing and sinking the ship immediately off the island with all hands and all cargo lost.
The Cabeço do Fogo Volcano erupted in 1672, leading to substantial emigration to Brazil.
In intervening years Horta became a stopover for Jesuit missionaries traveling to and from Brazil and Asia. The Jesuits constructed a college in Horta, as did the Carmelites and Franciscan Orders. In the 18th century, the explorer James Cook also reached the islands before initiating his Pacific voyages of discovery.
The people of Faial were active participants in the struggles between the Liberals and Absolutionists, finally deciding to favor the Liberals, and welcoming the visit of King Pedro IV in 1832. For its loyalty, Horta was elevated to the status of a town.
In 1876 work started on the construction of a dock in the protected harbor of Horta. As time progressed, Faial's importance expanded through this dock, as a waypoint to trans-Atlantic traffic. Charles William Dabney, the American entrepreneur (1794–1871), was responsible for the growth of the industry of the islands with whaling, wine, and orange exports predominating. A philanthropic figure, Dabney was responsible for cultivating the economy of the island and supporting its population, aiding agriculture, and generating markets abroad for their goods. As well as owning the Fayal shipping line, he was US consul for the Azores 1826–1871; one of the three Dabneys who for many years held the post of American consul for the Azores. The growth of industry and trans-Atlantic sail traffic also expanded Horta's importance, as a safe harbor and coal storage base. In 1919, the first airplane to cross the Atlantic stopped at Horta. Horta's exceptional situation also led to Pan American establishing a Clipper base there. Similarly, British, American, French, German, and Italian intercontinental submarine cable stations were based in Horta. During World War Two, Horta was also an important naval base, giving shelter to some of the Allied ships that took part in the Normandy invasion.
The island, dependent on whaling and agriculture, remained prosperous until the eruption of Capelinhos volcano in 1957. Communities of the northern and western coasts were harshly affected by the eruption, as agricultural lands were untillable and covered with sand and ash. This led to the migration of 4,000 people to the United States, spearheaded by members of the Portuguese diaspora in New England and Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy. In addition, whaling, as a viable commercial enterprise was slowly curtailed with innovations in the chemical sector and the influence of animal-rights groups.
Economic and political changes since the 1980s have helped to revitalize the island's economy and development. After the Azores gained the status of an Autonomous Region within Portugal, Horta, the island's only city, hosted the Regional Parliament (Parlamento Regional) of the Azores.
Along with other islands in the Azores archipelago, the island of Faial is volcanic, being one of the most volcanically active islands of the archipelago, and is close to the tectonic rift between the European and North American Plates. The island can be considered (from a geophysical perspective) the westernmost point of Europe (the two islands west of Faial, Flores, and Corvo, are already on the American plate).
The island is shaped as an irregular pentagon that occupies an area of approximately 173 square kilometres (67 sq mi), formed along a leaky transform fault extending from the mid-Atlantic Ridge to the Hirondelle faults. This is the same fault that bisects the remainder of the Central Group of islands along a west-northwest to east-southeast orientation. Although formed by complex volcanological events, the current landmass is dominated by the crater of its central stratovolcano with relatively gently sloping flanks, showing little sign of major erosion.
The island was formed from several geomorphological structures resulting from volcanism and other tectonic forces:
The mineral fayalite is named for this island, having been first identified and described there in 1840. It is an iron-rich expression within the olivine family.
Faial has a humid subtropical climate with some Mediterranean influences, oceanic at higher altitudes. Average temperature is around 17–18 °C (63–64 °F), 20 °C (68 °F) at daytime and 15 °C (59 °F) at nighttime. It has very mild winters for its latitude, in part due to its location in the mid-Atlantic Ocean and influence from the Gulf Stream, averaging 14 °C (57 °F) in its coldest month, February, and frosts never occur other than at high altitude. For comparison, Ocean City, Maryland, at a similar latitude, is 11.4 °C (52.5 °F) colder in its coldest month, averaging only 2.6 °C (36.7 °F). Summers are warm and relatively dry. Temperatures are moderated year-round, never too hot or too cold, daily temperatures are also moderated, with only 5 °C (41 °F) difference between highs and lows. Average relative humidity remains high at around 80% and insolation is relatively low with around 1800–1900 hours of annual sunshine, similar to locations in coastal northwestern Europe such as Nantes, France, although the sun is stronger in Faial because of its lower latitude. Precipitation is plentiful especially in the winter months, averaging 1,000 mm (39 in) annually. At higher altitudes (e.g. Caldeira Volcano) temperatures are cooler, precipitation and humidity are increasingly higher, and fog is very common.
In 2008, the Regional Government of the Azores established a comprehensive administrative framework to administer and promote the various environmental ecosystems of the island. These areas were reorganized under Regional Legislative Decree 46/2008/A, into the Faial Nature Park, that includes 13 protected areas:
In addition, there are a few instituted forest reserves on the island of Faial, under the authority of the Direcção Regional de Recursos Florestais (Regional Directorate for Forest Services):
Other areas of geological or environmental interest:
While diving in the Faial-Pico canal in 2013, the submarine Lula1000 discovered a coral reef 280–300 metres (920–980 ft) in depth and covering an area of 1,000 square metres (11,000 sq ft). In a communiqué to the Rebikoff–Niggeler Foundation, the group suggested that the reef formation was an important first discovery for the submarine team, which was located in the waters of the Azores since 1994, in order to document sea depth. Until this time, there were no documented records of coral reefs at such a depth in the waters of the Azores, nor at such a distance from Faial.
Administratively, the island is governed as one municipality, with its government seat in the city of Horta. Operationally, there are thirteen civil parishes with their own assemblies, three of which (Angústias, Matriz, and Conceição) constitute the principal urbanized core:
The remainder of the parishes (except Flamengos) circle the island, all linked by the regional road network and its ancillary roads:
Numerous earthquakes and seismic events have impacted Faial throughout its populated history. The most important were the earthquakes and aftershocks that occurred around Christmas and New Year's Day in 1759–1760. Similar in nature was the 1926 earthquake that rumbled the city of Horta, in early-April, where damages were reported in Flamengos, Ribeirinha, and Conceição. Then, on August 31 at 8:42, a new earthquake caused eight deaths and destroyed buildings in Horta, as well as the parishes of Conceição, Praia do Almoxarife (ruining 220 homes), Flamengos, Feteira, and Castelo Branco, Salao, and most of the Lomba do Pilar. Approximately 4,138 homes and buildings were partially or totally damaged. The years 1957–1958 (Capelinhos eruption), 1963, and 1973 all experienced similar tremors and events. The 1998 Azores earthquake on July 9, which shook the islands of Faial, Pico, and São Jorge at 07:19 (its epicentre north-northeast of Faial), measured 5.6 on the Richter scale and caused damage to the parishes of Riberinha, Pedro Miguel, Salão, and Cedros, as well as more extensive damage in Castelo Branco (mainly Lombega), Flamengos, and Praia do Almoxarife. Eight people died in the earthquake, and 1,700 were left homeless.
Faial's early economic growth was propelled by the cultivation and processing of woad, a blue-coloured dye produced from the plant Isatis tinctoria. It was the only source for blue dye until the end of the 16th century, when Portuguese trade routes started bringing indigo from the Far East. Economic and population growth was also spearheaded by legends of tin and silver perpetuated by members of the Portuguese court.
The island economy experienced a degree of prosperity until 1957, when the Capelinhos Volcano erupted in the western part of the island, reactivating emigration to North America, encouraged by promises of aid made by Massachusetts senator John F. Kennedy to the affected populations.
The main agricultural commodities of the island are potatoes, cereals, fruits, and wines, along with cattle (which make up its dairy and meat industry). The city of Horta is the centre of commerce and services on the island.
In the 1970s, after the Carnation Revolution, Portugal experienced economic growth, and an airport was opened; with it, tourists came. After Portugal entered into the European Economic Community (EEC), the standard of living rapidly grew and today the population is generally prosperous.
Faial is a tourist destination with a rich collection of historical, natural, and modern attractions that bring yachts, cruise ships, tourist groups, and naturalists to the hills and towns of the island. Apart from several hotels and bed & breakfasts scattered throughout the parishes, the visitor seeking sun will likely travel to the black sand beaches of Praia de Almoxarife, Conceição and Porto Pim, as well as the rock pools scattered along the coast. Varadouro is one such place, known for its warmer waters, micro-climate, summer cottages, and extensive salt-water pools open to the ocean.
Faial has a calendar that includes several secular and religious festivals. The most important ones occur in the summer. From Ascension Day until August, the feasts of the Holy Spirit are major events in each parish and neighborhood. During these events, a procession goes to the local church, a mass is celebrated there in conformity with a tradition/legend of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, and then the procession returns to the local império, where a feast of meat broth and soup is served to the invited guests, and the same soup and massa sovada (sweet bread) is handed out as a traditional sign of penitence. On Faial, generally, these feasts are by invitation, whereas on other islands they are open to the public.
The patron saint of Faial is Saint John, celebrated as São João da Caldeira, on June 24. This is a day celebrated with a mass at the Chapel of São João, followed by family picnics along the roadways and fields of the Caldera. Similarly, in Largo Jaime Melo in Horta, people gather from around the island to enjoy picnics, and other diversions (such as band music and/or singers).
On August 1, people celebrate the annual feast of Nossa Senhora da Guia, a celebration originally started by local fisherman in the name of the Virgin Mary. A flotilla of small boats with one carrying the statue of the Virgin arrives in the harbor at Port Pim. From there, following benedictions, the statue is taken in procession to the top of Monte da Guia, where mass is celebrated in the chapel of Monte da Guia.
The most important festival of the Faialense calendar is the secular Semana do Mar (Sea Week). It is a week-long celebration in Horta of Faial's link to the sea, celebrated in song, dance, exhibitions and kiosks selling different foods (of local and continental Portugal) and goods. During the day there are several sailing competitions and exhibits, while in the evening while many sample foods along the Avenida Marginal. Others listen and/or dance to popular and/or traditional musical acts on one of several platforms devoted to bands, traditional and modern/contemporary musical artists. The events culminate with a traditional closing ceremony and fireworks display.
The island, like some other Azorean islands, produces cheeses and other milk products, along with beef, and by-products notable in Portugal. Its cuisine features local seafood.
Scrimshaw, handiwork made of whale teeth, is a traditional craft of the Azores. Other types of handiwork traditionally created on the island include straw embroideries on tulle, flowers made from fish scales, decorations in cut paper, as well as crochet lace-work with characteristic motifs .