The Kevin Arthur Family

Missionaries to Belize, Central America
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The Azores Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean, about two hours flying time and 930 miles (1500 Km) from Lisbon, and about five hours flying time and 2422 miles (3900 Km) from the eastern coast of North America. The Azores have a total area of 910 square miles (2355 Km2). Their individual areas vary between S. Miguel's 290 square miles (747 Km2) and Corvo's 7 square miles (17 Km2). Its nine island archipelago extends over the parallel that runs through Lisbon (39º43'/39º55' north latitude), giving it a moderate climate with mild annual temperature oscillation.
 
 
 

 

 

The total surface area of the Azores is 2,332.7 Km2 which represents approximately 2.5% of the national territory of Portugal and has about 242,620 inhabitants (in 1996). The surface area and inhabitants per island were:

ISLAND SURFACE INHABITANTS
 Santa Maria    97.2 Km2        6,030
 São Miguel    746.8 Km2    130,140
Terceira         402.2 Km2     56,780
 Graciosa         61.2 Km2       4,960
São Jorge      245.8 Km2       10,300
  Pico              447.7 Km2     14,930
   Faial             173.1 Km2      14,750
   Flores           141.7 Km2        4,430
  Corvo              17.1 Km2          300

 The Azores sit atop of the Atlantic ridge and are of volcanic origin. Santa Maria is the only island that has signs of reef sediment. The volcanic origin of all Azorean islands is revealed by their volcanic cones and craters. Pico, a volcano that stands 7725 feet (2,351 meters) high on the island of the same name has the highest altitude in the Azores.

The archipelago of the Azores is and Autonomous Region of the Portuguese Republic since 1976 extending for 373 miles (600 km) from Santa Maria in the western group to Corvo on the eastern group. It forms an exclusive economic zone of 425 square miles (1.1 million km2). Portuguese is the official language, although there are some dialects of Flemish and African origins. The current president of the Azores is Cesar Carlos. The Presidency for the autonomous government sits in Ponta Delgada (S. Miguel), with the Supreme Court in Angra do Heroismo (Terceira) and the Legislative Assembly in Horta (Faial). Ponta Delgada is the largest city with about 55,000 habitants.

The Azores where discovered in 1427 by Goncalo Velho (a contested fact by historians), a captain sailing under the command of Henry the Navigator. The colonization of the Islands started in 1439 with people from Portugal, North Africa, Flanders and Spain. There were no humans living in the Azores at time of discovery.