Archipelago

Inserted in the Macaronesian biogeographical region, the nine islands of the Azores archipelago is located in the Atlantic Ocean, in the North of latitude 36º 55′ and 39º 45′ and West longitude of 25º and 31º 15′.

In spite of the Azores there is mention in the oldest Genoese cards. Because of its geographical spread and diversity, the archipelago is divided into three groups: the West, comprising Corvo and Flores, the westernmost and that it is about 1,800 km of Newfoundland in Canada; the central, with the islands of Graciosa, São Jorge, Faial, Pico and Terceira; and the Eastern Group, with São Miguel and Santa Maria, the 1,400 km from the Cabo da Roca in Portugal. Are the islands of Faial and Pico with a larger geographical proximity-only 6 miles of canal between the two, contrasting with more than 620 miles that stud the Crow of Santa Maria.

In total, there are 2,333 km² of land green and fertile, and which vary greatly in distribution, since the 17 km² of the Raven to 747 km² of San Miguel. Is in Pico Island is the highest mountain of Portugal, with a towering 2,351 metres above sea level. In spite of the Azores there is mention in the oldest Genoese cards, will have been in 1427 to Diogo de Silves landed on the island of Santa Maria, then continuing for six other islands; the latest to have been discovered were Flores and Corvo, in 1452. Seeing that the weather was mild, the dense vegetation and fertile land, began the settlement by Gonçalo Velho, having the Islands arrived families from Estremadura, Alto Alentejo and Algarve.

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