AZORES (Portugal)

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The volcanic archipelago of the Azores is one of Portugal's best kept secrets. Like a fragment of Europe adrift in the Atlantic, the nine islands are spread across 645 kms somewhere between Lisbon and New York. The largest island, São Miguel, is most notable for its crater lakes, while the regional capital, Ponta Delgada has many fine 17th and 18th century Baroque churches. On the east side, the spa resort of Furnas is alive with steam vents, hot springs, boiling mud and other types of geothermal activity. To the south, Santa Maria Island was the first island to be discovered by Portuguese explorers in 1427. Featuring an abundance of coves and sandy beaches, it boasts a spectacular landscape and temperate year round climate. Visitors to Terceira Island will find the streets embroidered with enchanting manor houses and churches. Angra do Heroísmo, the capital, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Faial Island is a regular meeting point for yachts and other vessels crossing the Atlantic. Its main town, Horta, has played host to streams of ships over the centuries. Graciosa Island is a peaceful retreat with windmills, manor houses and 16th century churches. Visitors have the chance to descend into a volcano and witness the bubbling sulphurous liquids below. Long, thin and mountainous, São Jorge Island is famous for its cheese and other dairy products, along with a rare collection of 17th century paintings. Besides being Europe's most westerly point, Flores Island is considered the most prettiest in the Azores. Its capital, Santa Cruz, has an interesting museum and several historic monuments. Rising to 2,350 metres, Pico Island is Portugal's highest peak, attracting climbers from all over the world. Lajes on the south coast is the region's main whale watching centre. Tiny Corvo Island to the north west is the blown top of a huge marine volcano known as Monte Gordo. Its main attraction is a green crater lake dotted with nine islets. one for each island in the Azores.