GEOGRAPHY
Located right in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean between Europe and North America, the Azores is on a parallel with Lisbon at a latitude of 39 43'/36 55' N.
The nine islands have a total surface area of 2,333 km2 and an Exclusive Economic Zone extending over 984,300 km2. Island areas range between 747 km2 (Sao Miguel island) and 17 km2 (Corvo island).
The peak of the volcano of Pico attains a height of 2,351 m constituting the highest point to be found on either the Azores or mainland Portugal. The population is currently 237,795 inhabitants.
HISTORY
The Portuguese arrived in 1427 with the discovery of the islands of Santa Maria and São Miguel. Due to its strategic geographic position, the archipelago was to become one of the axis of navigation between Europe, the Orient and America during the course of the 16th and 17th centuries. This period saw many major naval battles take place off the Azores as a result of pirate attacks. Subsequent centuries saw the development of the islands, the introduction of new agriculture, and the development of cattle breeding and fishing. Having constituted an integral part of Portugal from the very outset, today the Azores is an autonomous region endowed with its own parliament and government.
GETTING AROUND
There are regular sea ferries between the islands of Faial, Pico and Sip Jorge and also between Terceira and Graciosa. All the islands barring Corvo have bus and taxi transportation. Hire car services are available on the eight main islands. Car transportation is provided for tourist trips around the island of Corvo.
ARRIVING BY AIR
There are frequent two hour flights from Lisbon to the three Azorean airports: Ponta Delgada (São Miguel island), Lajes (Terceira island), and Horta (Faial island) Ponta Delgada is also served by regular flights to Funchal (Madeira) and during the peak season to Oporto and Frankfurt (Germany) Charter flights link America and Canada to the airports of Ponta Delgada and Lajes. Inter-island flights are provided by SATA Air Azores.
NATURE AND ENVIRONMENT
The Azores' commitment to the preservation of nature and environmental protection led the European Union to award the Azores an honorable mention in 1995 as part of the European Awards for Tourism and the Environment. The region's committment to nature is borne out by the presence of dozens of natural reserves, areas of protected landscape, parks and forests, all of which are a fitting testament to the commitment the regional government shows towards their ecological preservation.
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