Flores Island (Azores)
Native name: Ilha das Flores Nickname: The Yellow Island | |
---|---|
Geography | |
Location | Atlantic Ocean |
Coordinates | 39°26′37″N 31°11′57″W / 39.44361°N 31.19917°W |
Archipelago | Azores |
Area | 141.02 km2 (54.45 sq mi)[1] |
Coastline | 72.79 km (45.23 mi)[1] |
Highest elevation | 915 m (3002 ft)[1] |
Highest point | Morro Alto |
Administration | |
Autonomous Region | Azores |
Municipalities | |
Demographics | |
Demonym | Florense/Florentino |
Population | 3,428 (2021)[2] |
Pop. density | 28.33/km2 (73.37/sq mi)[1] |
Languages | Portuguese |
Ethnic groups | Portuguese |
Additional information | |
Time zone |
Flores Island (Portuguese: Ilha das Flores; Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈfloɾɨʃ]) is an island of the Western Group (Grupo Ocidental) of the Azores.
It has an area of 143 km2, a population of 3428 inhabitants, and, together with Corvo Island of the western archipelago, lies within the North American Plate. The nearby Monchique Islet is the westernmost point of Portugal.
It has been referred to as the Ilha Amarelo Torrado ('Yellow/Auburn Island') and due to the association with poet Raul Brandão. It is well known for its abundance of flowers, hence its Portuguese name of Flores.
History
Some early accounts existed of the "(seven) islands of the Azores and two islands of Flores" [citation needed] (referring to the islands of Flores and Corvo), but no "official discovery" occurred until the mid-15th century. The island of Flores was discovered in the late summer of 1452 by the navigator Diogo de Teive and his son João de Teive, and first noted by the pilot Pêro Velasco to Christopher Columbus during his voyages. For his reward, Teive received the concession of the sugar monopoly on Madeira.
The earlier names of the island were São Tomás (after
After meeting with Dona Maria Vilhena (who administered the island in the name of her young son, Rui de Teles), Van der Haegen came to an agreement and moved to the island between 1480 and 1490. Van der Haegen had arrived in the Azores in 1469 and lived for a time on
According to Bartolomé de las Casas, two dead bodies that looked like those of Amerindians were found on Flores. He said he found that fact in Columbus' notes, and it was one reason why Columbus presumed that India was on the other side of the ocean.[4]
By 1504, the island's charter had passed to João Fonseca and settlers streamed through the port of Armoeira to the small hamlets. The island became permanently populated during the reign of King
The name of the island of Flores has been made familiar to generations of English readers by the opening line of
Despite the isolation, the waters of Flores were frequently raided by pirates.
The pirate Peter Easton, who commanded a fleet of 40 privateers, made Flores a regular port-of-call, provisioning meat, water and kindling for his travels and supposedly married a daughter of the Captaincy of Flores. Doubly inconvenienced with the damages caused by this pirate's ships and with the complicity of local Florentines, Philip II of Portugal (Philip III of Spain) ordered, on July 30, 1611, the necessary means taken to capture Easton. He was never captured, although the local Florentine magistrate and Captain were arrested.
From the 1760s to the early 20th century, American whalers hunted sperm whales in the waters of the Azores, and many of the islands' inhabitants were recruited as whalers. The American whaler, Wanderer, operated off the coast of Flores between 1878 and 1924.
The CSS Alabama, an American Confederate States Navy ship, the most prolific commerce raider in the waters off Flores, was responsible for 69 sinkings in the course of two years beginning in the summer of 1862. Between 5 and 18 September 1862, it was responsible for capturing and setting ablaze the schooner Starlight, along with whalers off the coast of Flores.
The island's isolation has been remedied during the 20th century, first with the installation of telegraph services, then the establishment of Radio-Flores (1909), and later with point-to-point telephone communication (1925). Service between the island and the rest of the archipelago was handled by small sailing ships until the beginning of the century, with ships such as the 36-ton yacht Santa Cruz or 80-ton yacht Flores, until the latter was lost in the bay of Porto Pim,
In July 1962, the French laid the foundations for a missile tracking installation on the island, which was inaugurated in October 1966. In the following years, a hospital, a power station, and an airport were established, which brought a financial upswing to the entire island. After the French left the island in 1994, tourism became the island's dominant industry.
Geography
Flores, along with the island of Corvo, is situated on the North American Continental Plate of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and belongs to the western group of islands in the Azores archipelago. Geomorphologically, the island is composed of two units:
- The Central Massif, in the central plain, has many maar structures with lake-filled craters in the adjacent lands;
- The Coastal Periphery includes the coastal zones, cliffs, and ancient beaches, as well as the coastal shelf.
The island developed initially from a submarine volcano from the Pleistocene epoch that constructed small calderas and numerous
Azevedo et al. (1986) divides the lavas and deposits into two major volcanic complexes:
- The Basal Volcanic Complex, which includes products and deposits of both submarine and subaerial volcanism, formed by pyroclastic deposits and inter-bedded flows of alkali basalts.
- The Upper Volcanic Complex represents the main sub-aerial activity composed of three main stratigraphic units, including basaltic to trachytic flows with interbedded pyroclastic deposits in the first two layers, and a more recent unit of exclusively pyroclastic deposits.
During the summer, the island is covered with hydrangeas, which have large blue or pink flowers; this is the origin of the island's name (Flores is the Portuguese word for flowers).
The island has deep valleys and high peaks;
Environment
Ecoregions/protected areas
Fajãzinha, in the municipality of Lajes das Flores, is a typical Azorean village that includes ruins of watermills. Nearby are several waterfalls which flow into the Ribeira Grande.
On May 27, 2009, Flores was chosen as one of the several areas to be included on the
On 13 October 2010, the Regional Secretary for Environment and Ocean (Portuguese: Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Mar) declared that the Rocha dos Bordões would be given a regional monument designation as part of an overall plan of integrating the Flores Nature Park (Portuguese: Parque Natural da Ilha das Flores). The park is formed from the central plateau, descends in the northern coast and along the southern coast from Morro Alto, including the many lakes, ending at the Rocha dos Bordões. In the government's decision, the regional secretary included an area "especially rich in peat and humid zone vegetation" together with the geological formation of the Rocha dos Bordões.[8]
Important Bird Area
The island of Flores and the neighbouring
Climate
Under the Köppen climate classification, Flores Island has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) that transits into an oceanic climate (Cfb) at higher elevations. Its climate is largely influenced by the warm Gulf Stream and the surrounding ocean, resulting in a narrow temperature range and a wet climate. Winters are very mild and rainy with a February average of 14.1 °C (57.4 °F). Summers are warm to hot with the average temperature in August averaging 25.7 °C (78.3 °F) during the day and 19.8 °C (67.6 °F) during the night. Throughout the year, temperatures rarely exceed 30 °C (86.0 °F) or fall below 5 °C (41.0 °F).
Precipitation is significant throughout the year, although summer months are drier than winter months. There are around 240 days with measurable precipitation. Humidity is constantly high (around 80% at sea level, increasing with altitude).
The microclimate of the forest park of
Climate data for Santa Cruz das Flores, Azores (1981–2010 normals, sun hours 1971–2000 & humidity 1921–1950) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 21.1 (70.0) |
21.0 (69.8) |
21.8 (71.2) |
22.5 (72.5) |
25.3 (77.5) |
26.9 (80.4) |
29.8 (85.6) |
30.4 (86.7) |
29.6 (85.3) |
26.6 (79.9) |
25.0 (77.0) |
23.1 (73.6) |
30.4 (86.7) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 17.0 (62.6) |
16.7 (62.1) |
17.1 (62.8) |
18.0 (64.4) |
19.5 (67.1) |
21.8 (71.2) |
24.6 (76.3) |
25.7 (78.3) |
24.4 (75.9) |
21.8 (71.2) |
19.3 (66.7) |
17.8 (64.0) |
20.3 (68.6) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 14.5 (58.1) |
14.1 (57.4) |
14.6 (58.3) |
15.4 (59.7) |
16.9 (62.4) |
19.0 (66.2) |
21.7 (71.1) |
22.8 (73.0) |
21.6 (70.9) |
19.2 (66.6) |
16.9 (62.4) |
15.3 (59.5) |
17.7 (63.8) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 11.9 (53.4) |
11.5 (52.7) |
12.0 (53.6) |
12.7 (54.9) |
14.2 (57.6) |
16.2 (61.2) |
18.8 (65.8) |
19.8 (67.6) |
18.8 (65.8) |
16.5 (61.7) |
14.4 (57.9) |
12.8 (55.0) |
15.0 (58.9) |
Record low °C (°F) | 2.1 (35.8) |
4.0 (39.2) |
3.4 (38.1) |
5.0 (41.0) |
9.0 (48.2) |
9.2 (48.6) |
11.4 (52.5) |
13.8 (56.8) |
11.4 (52.5) |
9.1 (48.4) |
6.5 (43.7) |
5.4 (41.7) |
2.1 (35.8) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 197.1 (7.76) |
171.3 (6.74) |
155.0 (6.10) |
104.4 (4.11) |
105.6 (4.16) |
97.3 (3.83) |
60.6 (2.39) |
68.0 (2.68) |
123.9 (4.88) |
179.5 (7.07) |
179.6 (7.07) |
223.9 (8.81) |
1,666.2 (65.6) |
Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 23.9 | 22.0 | 21.1 | 18.6 | 18.6 | 15.7 | 15.0 | 16.4 | 19.7 | 21.9 | 22.1 | 24.7 | 239.7 |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 81 | 80 | 81 | 79 | 79 | 80 | 80 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 73.8 | 79.8 | 107.0 | 129.7 | 168.4 | 163.8 | 205.3 | 215.2 | 157.3 | 117.5 | 82.3 | 65.3 | 1,565.4 |
Percent possible sunshine | 24 | 26 | 28 | 33 | 38 | 37 | 45 | 51 | 42 | 34 | 27 | 22 | 34 |
Source 1: | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (humidity 1921–1950)[12] |
Human settlement
Due to the generally rugged landscape of the island, many of the early settlements developed along the flatter coastal lands. The few settlements that are located in the interior are dotted by small homes or agricultural buildings.
Administratively, the island of Flores is divided into two municipalities (concelhos in Portuguese), which in turn are composed of several civil parishes, with their own civil committees and administrative executives:
- Santa Cruz das Flores, located in the north, has 2,020 inhabitants (2021 census), and includes the island's largest community (Santa Cruz das Flores), a community located on the eastern coast, and where the local airport, as well as the principal governmental services, primary and secondary schools, and regional health centre are located. It comprises the following civil parishes:
- Caveira, the smallest parish in size, bordering Lajes das Flores, with 76 inhabitants;
- Cedros, the "middle" parish that straddles the river-valleys of Algoa Bay and historical location of orchards owing to its micro-climate;
- Ponta Delgada; third-largest community on the island, located along the northern coast;
- Santa Cruz das Flores; municipal seat, the location of the airport and largest population (with 1,552 inhabitants);
- Lajes das Flores, the southern municipality includes many of the natural landscapes of the island and is inhabited by approximately 1,408 inhabitants (2021 census). The principal parishes are:
- Fajã Grande, located in the basin and fajã on the western coast, with a population of 220 inhabitants;
- Fajãzinha, with 71 residents, is located south of Fajã Grande; Fajãzinha is a diminutive of fajã, referring to it being a small agglomeration of homes in the corner of the fajã;
- Fazenda, literally meaning "commercial goods" or "location where [these] goods are available for sale", it was the last civil parish to be formed (de-annexed from its neighbour in 1919); with 261 people living in an area of 29.5 km²;
- Lajedo, an agricultural community located 9 km from Lajes, and close to the Rocha dos Bordões, as well as other natural monuments;
- Lajes das Flores, the seat of the municipal government, located on the southeast coast; largest population center in the municipality;
- Lomba, location of the island's first chapel, and neighbor of the parish of Lajes. Lomba represents an area bordered by river valleys along the southern coast;
- Mosteiro, the smallest parish in area and density, with 19 residents, is the second smallest center on the island.
Economy
The economy of the island is mainly agricultural, with taro and grain cultivation the principal activities. Due to the early settlers being from northern Portugal, the island's houses and streets resemble those found there. Portugal has a military agreement with France permitting France to have a base in the region.[where?] Santa Cruz das Flores houses the only airport on the island. While to the south of the village commercial fishermen operate out of the port and the ferry to Corvo Island is also based at Santa Cruz, the island's primary commercial port is located in Lajes das Flores.
Transport
The island is serviced by the
On 26 August 2012, the Regional Secretary for Science, Technology, and Equipment[13] oversaw the requalification of 17 kilometres (11 mi) of regional roadways on the island.[14] The public works were intended to upgrade many of the island's roads, considered the worst network in the Azores during the late part of the 20th century.[14] An initial investment of 22 million euros had recuperated 77 kilometres (48 mi) on the island prior to this, and 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) of roadways were proposed to complete the improvements to the region.[14]
Culture
In addition to the traditional meat and fish dishes that are popularly Azorean, the island's own dishes include: Papa Grossa, Sopa de Agrião, Cozido de Porco, Molhos de Dobrada, Inhames com Linguiça and Feijões com Cabeça de Porco, as well as a local cheese and creamy butter. The fishery is also the base of seafood dishes such as Caldeirada de Congro, Bonito Assado no Forno, and Pasteis de Ervas Marinhas, in addition to Atlantic lobster, cavacos, crab, limpet and barnacles.
Notable citizens
- Diogo das Chagas (ca.1584 in Santa Cruz das Flores – ca.1661 in Angra do Heroísmo) was a Portuguese Franciscan friar and historian.
- Ponta Delgada, 1827), priest, poet, historian, and author of various works of satire, including his heroic satire O Testamento de D. Burro, Pai dos Asnos, that poked fun at his critics, for their class-based antagonisms towards his illegitimacy. He was accused of damaging the reputation of the church, and brought before the inquisition, but absolved: yet, his antagonists had already destroyed his career, forcing him to live in disgrace off handouts from friends or church services, until his death.[15]
See also
- List of volcanoes in Azores
References
Notes
- ^ a b c d "Geografia Flores". iaram.azores.gov.pt. Azores Government. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ "INE - Plataforma de divulgação dos Censos 2021 – Resultados Preliminares". censos.ine.pt. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ a b Gomes, Francisco António Nunes Pimentel. Um Olhar Sobre Santa Cruz das Flores. Inventário Património Imóvel dos Açores, 2008.
- ISBN 0-14-044562-5.
- ^ Bragaglia, Pierluigi (1996), p. 14; Since the rediscovery of the Canary Islands, and following decrees from King Afonso IV, the Azores were the fulcrum in trans-Atlantic navigation; caravels, galleons and naus from the Indies would routinely find port along the coasts of Flores and Corvo.
- ^ The Revenge: A Ballad of the Fleet
- ^ Environment News Service. "UNESCO Designates 22 New Biosphere Reserves" Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. May 27, 2009.
- ^ Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Mar, Parque natural das Flores com Rocha dos Bordões como “jóia da coroa”[permanent dead link], 13 October 2010
- ^ "Corvo and Flores". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
- ^ "Normais climatológicas 1981-2010>Flores". Instituto de Meteorologia. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
- ^ "Normais climatológicas 1971-2000>Flores" (PDF). Instituto de Meteorologia. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ "Klimatafel von Santa Cruz / Insel Flores; Azoren / Portugal" (PDF). Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
- ^ Portuguese: Secretário Regional da Ciência, Tecnologia e Equipamentos
- ^ a b c "Governo realiza "maior reforma de sempre" nas estradas das Flores, diz José Contente" (in Portuguese). Ponta Delgada (Santa Cruz das Flores), Portugal. 26 August 2012. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
- ^ Leite (1987), pp. 1141-1203.
Sources
- Azevedo, J. M. (1999), Geologia e hidrogeologia da ilha das Flores, Açores. Tese de Doutoramento, Universidade de Coimbra, p. 403
- Carvalho, M. (2006). "Flores: Gastronomy". Vol. 1, no. 11. Montreal, Canada: O Açoreano. p. 14.
- Bragaglia, Pierluigi (1996), Roteiro dos Antigos Caminhos do Concelho Lajes das Flores, Açores [Route of the Old Roads in the Municipality of Lajes dos Flores, Azores] (in Portuguese), Lajes dos Flores (Azores), Portugal: Câmara Municipal de Lajes das Flores
- GRA, ed. (12 October 2010). "Parque natural das Flores com Rocha dos Bordões como "jóia da coroa"" (in Portuguese). Horta (Azores), Portugal: Governo Regional dos Açores/Secretário Regional do Ambiente e do Mar.[permanent dead link]
- Leite, J. (1987). "O padre José António Camões: uma tentativa de biografia". Vol. 2, no. 45. Angra do Heroísmo (Azores), Portugal: Boletim do Instituto Histórico da Ilha Terceira. pp. 1141–1203.
External links
- Media related to Flores (Azores) at Wikimedia Commons