The Azores are a widely spread out archipelago in the Atlantic, west of mainland Portugal. The islands belong to the so-called Mid-Atlantic Ridge and lie on the plate boundary between the African, European and North American continental plates.
The Azores are made up of nine large and several small islands. The big ones are Sao Miguel, Santa Maria, Terceira, Graciosa, Sao Jorge, Pico, Faial, Flores and Corvo. The total area of the Azores is 2,330 km², the highest point of the Azores is the volcano Pico at 2,351 m on the island of the same name. Of the nine large islands, all but Santa Maria are volcanic origin. The islands actually represent the tops of some of the world’s tallest mountains (when measured from the bottom of the ocean).
The Azores form an autonomous region of Portugal and thus also belong to the European Union. The administrative capital of the Azores is Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel. Around 65,000 people live here, and the Azores Islands are inhabited by around 245,000 people.
The main island of Sao Miguel is the closest to mainland Europe from the Azores Islands (1,369 km west of the Portuguese coast)
The beaches of Santa Maria are considered to be the most beautiful in the Azores. The largest city of the island, Vila do Porto, offers some sights, such as the former monastery from the 16th century, which now serves as the town hall.
Sao Miguel is the largest and one of the most attractive of the Azores islands. The Sete Cidades crater is one of the natural wonders of the Azores. In the 40 km² large crater there are two lakes, one of which is deep blue and the other emerald green. A world heritage site is located on the island of Terceira. The city of Angra do Heroismo owes this award to picturesque white houses, narrow cobblestone streets and the cathedral.
Azores climate
The Azores archipelago is located in the Atlantic Ocean, around 1,500 kilometers from the Portuguese coast. The Azores have a balanced subtropical maritime climate all year round. The Gulf Stream has a particularly moderate climate here. However, the maritime climate in the Azores is characterized by strongly fluctuating weather conditions during the day. In one day you can experience sun and rain, wind and calm in various combinations on the Azores.
According to bridgat, the summers are warm but not too hot with average maximum temperatures between 22 and 26 ° C. At night, temperatures rarely drop below 17 ° C. Summer storms and rains occur occasionally.
The winters in the Azores are relatively cool, humid and foggy, the temperatures do not fall below 12/13 ° C even at night. During the day, maximum temperatures of around 17 to 18 ° C are reached. In winter, the weather in the Azores can be stormy and changeable.
Most of the precipitation falls between November and March, the driest months are June and July. However, it can rain at any time of the year in the Azores. The annual amount of rain in the Azores is spatially distributed quite differently. On average, 700 to 1,500 mm of precipitation falls per year, but maximum values of up to 6,000 mm can be reached in the mountains. The humidity in the Azores is relatively high all year round.
Best travel time for the Azores
As there are no extreme temperatures in the Azores, the weather is usually pleasant all year round. In winter, however, it can be quite uncomfortable when it rains.
The period between April and October is particularly popular with holidaymakers , and sunny weather is particularly common in July and August. These two months also represent the high tourist season in the Azores.
Azores Geography
The Azores are a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean and are located about 1,400 west of their mother country Portugal. The “hawk islands” consist of a group of nine larger and many small islands and rockand form an autonomous region of Portugal. The total area of the Azores is around 2,300 square kilometers with a population of around 2,400,000 people. The capital of the Azores is Ponta Delgada, it is located on the main island of Sao Miguel.
As part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Azores lie on the border between the European and African plates. Eight of the nine large islands are products of volcanic activity. Only the island of Santa Maria was created by the accumulation of sedimentary rocks. The nine islands are divided into three groups on the so-called “Mid-Atlantic Threshold”: the main island of Sao Miguel and Santa Maria together with the Formigas Islands in the east form the Grupo Oriental. The islands of Terceira, Graciosa, Sao Jorge, Pico and Faial belong to the middle group or Grupo Central. In the northwest lies the Grupo Ocidental with the islands of Flores and Corvo.
The volcanoes on the island are in part a height of more than 2,000 meters above sea level and were in some cases until recently they operate. The island of Pico has the highest elevation in the Azores and Portugal with the 2,351 meter high volcano of the same name.
Azores – places of interest
Up until now, the Azores were mostly made up of mainland Portuguese and international sailors, primarily from Scandinavia and Vacationers from the German-speaking area.In the Azores the tourism branch first, mainly because of the unique climate and the low temperature fluctuations. The tourists especially like to come because of the original nature that still prevails here.
The Azores are made up of nine islands. Of the nine, eight are of volcanic origin. Hence, you don’t have huge beaches to offer and the temperatures in summer are usually not over twenty-five degrees. Most vacationers in the Azores are sailors or hikers.
The various medicinal springs and thermal baths in Furnas also attract many tourists. The baths make the place an attractive health resort.
The Azores are the only place in Europe where tea is grown. The special thing about this tea is that it has very little tea compared to the teas from Asia or Africa. These tea plantations are among the tourist attractions of the Azores.
Whale-watching tours are also offered on the various islands.
