FAIAL ISLAND:
The Azores Islands are a group made up of 9 islands that belong to the Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, located about 1,500 km (930 mi) from Lisbon and about 3,900 km (2,400 mi) from the east coast of North America. The Azores islands were discovered or recognized, depending on the Historian, in 1427 by Portuguese navigators. The Azores islands were populated in the 15th century by pioneers from Portugal although small groups of Flemings settled in some of the islands. During the 16th and 17th centuries the Azores archipelago was one of the centers of trade between Europe America and India, and its ports sheltered and serviced galleons loaded with treasures.
Officially, the first islands were discovered in the fifteenth century by Diogo de Silves a Captain at the service of Infante D. Henrique. Important naval battles were fought in the waters of the Azores in that period, during the attacks by corsairs and pirates. The following centuries were calmer, but in 1829 the Azores returned to the pages of history with the role played by Terceira in the struggle against the absolutist forces, and as the base for the liberal forces invading the mainland Portugal to regain power.
The archipelago developed during the 19th and 20th centuries with the introductions of new crops, the developing of industries, and progress made with stock-breeding and fisheries. The last few years have witnessed a slow but progressive improvement in the economic and social well-being of the population. Most of this improvement is due to the inflow of capital donations from emigrants (almost all from North America), the annual leasing of the Lajes Air Field to the United States, and grants from the European Community
The Azores archipelago is located in a region between 37° N and the parallels of latitude that pass through the Lisbon area (39° 43′ / 39° 55′ N), giving it generally a tepid, oceanic, subtropical climate, with mild annual temperatures oscillating from 15°C (59 °F) to 27°C (80°F). The average temperature in Azores is 18°C (64°F). Statistically the driest month is July and the wettest November. Average annual mean relative humidity is 76%. It ranges from 73% in August to 80% in December and January. Frost is non-existent in Azores.
The ocean water temperature in Azores range from 17°C (63°F) in the winter to 25°C (77° F) in the summer. The average annual rainfall increases from east to west, with annual precipitation of 958 mm (37.7 in) or 80 mm (3.1 in) per month. The Azores high, an area of high atmospheric pressure, is named after the islands. Light clothes, with one or two sweater or jacket pieces for the cooler days or nights, are enough all year round. In the winter slightly warmer clothing may be necessary. It is better to bring along a light raincoat, however, as there are sometimes showers followed at once by sunshine. “The days of the four seasons” as the Azoreans affectionately say are more prevalent in the months from October to April.
Mount Pico on Pico Island, at 2,351 m (7,713 ft) in altitude, is the highest in all of Portugal. The Azores are actually the tops of some of the tallest mountains on the planet, as measured from their base at the bottom of the ocean. The archipelago forms the Autonomous Region of Azores, one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal, along with the archipelago of Madeira.
The official language in Azores is Portuguese. In most of the nine islands, the variety of Portuguese spoken is very similar to standard European Portuguese. The primary exception is the Portuguese spoken on the largest island, Sao Miguel, where the language has a distinct accent unlike any spoken in the Portuguese territory. English is widely used in the tourism industry and is gaining momentum in the islands due to being officially a required language in early schooling.
Faial Island (the blue island) is part of the Azores central group, One of the lowest crime rate and safest of the islands. It is located about 66 miles from Terceira, 4.5 miles from Pico and 11 miles from S. Jorge. The surface area of Faial Island is approximately 67 square miles (173 km2). The island has about 15,000 inhabitants and its main municipal seat is located in the city of Horta. Different colors of blue flowers decorate the houses and divide the fields and line the roadsides giving Faial the name “Blue Island”.
In the 18th century the development of whaling brought the early whaling fleets to Horta. By the 19th century Horta had become an important sea port and a stopping point for a large number of yachts crossing the Atlantic.
In 1957 a great volcanic eruption from the “Ilheu dos Capelinhos”, about 1 km from the coast, projected large quantities of lava and ash forming an islet that later became connected to Faial island by an isthmus. The green circle of a volcanic cone at the top of a hill; white houses in towns mirrored on the ocean; the masts of sailing boats sailing from all over the world; the ochre walls of a fortress that has witnessed countless naval battles; the unforgettable sight of sunrise with the island of Pico in the background; the quiet inlets with beaches of soft sand; the hydrangeas standing out against the landscape framing houses and roads; all this contributes to the beauty, aesthetic, and cultural depth of the “Blue Island”.
