Faial Island
| Fayal | |
|---|---|
| Image caption | |
| Elevation: | 1,043 m (3,422 feet) |
| Latitude: | 38.60° N (38° 36' 0" N) |
| Longitude: | 28.73° W (28° 44' 0" W) |
| Location: | Azores, Portugal |
| Type: | Stratovolcano |
| Last eruption: | 1958 |
| First ascent: | |
| Easiest route: | |
Faial Island (also known in English as Fayal) is a Portuguese island of the Central group (Grupo Central) of the Azores. Its area is 173 km² it is located 28.7 W in latitude and 38.6 N in longitude. The nearest island is Pico Island to the east.
The island is also known as Ilha Azul, the "Blue Island", due to the large quantity of Hydrangeas that bloom during the summer months.
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History
The island was discovered in the first half of the 15th century. The povoamento was given in 1460 with Portuguese but also Flemish.
The original name of Fayal was Ilha da Ventura (Venture Island) and it was discovered by Diogo de Silves, a pilot in the service of the King of Portugal, in 1427. In 1432 a small group of Portuguese settlers came from Terceira Island. The Flemish settled in a valley that until today carries their name. According to the testimony of Henry the Navigator the island became known has São Luís Island (Ilha de São Luís). The Flemish joined more Portuguese and formed Vila da Orta and some time later the island's name changed to Fayal, due to the large number of Fayal trees. With the island's economy expanding, more Portuguese settled there, rapidly diminishing the Flemish influence.
During the Iberian Union of Portugal and Spain, the island was frequently attacked by British and French pirates between 1589 and 1597. The pirates robbed the inhabitants and burned what they left behind. The Fayalese people, to protect themselves, built a large number of fortresses; in the 18th century there were more than 20. The Cabeço de Fogo Volcano erupted in 1672, leading to emigration to Brazil, but the economy was not significantly damaged.
The island remained prosperous until the eruption of Capelinhos volcano in 1957, leading to emigration to North America. After the Azores gained the status of an Autonomous region in Portugal, Horta, the island's city, was allowed to host the regional parliament (parlamento regional) of the Azores.
Geography
Fayal is hilly; the highest mountain, the Cabeço Gordo Caldera, is 1,043 metres high and the inner crater is 2 km wide and 500 metres deep. The deepest part of the crater is filled with a lake.
The island is of volcanic origin. The island was circular (20km x 25 km) until 1957. The last eruption was at Vulcão dos Capelinhos on September 27, 1957. At first, the volcano formed a small islet, near the western part of Fayal. But the volcano became active again on December 16, 1957; this lasted until May 12, 1958 and connected the islet with Fayal, effectively enlarging it by 2.4 km² and forming the "Ponta dos Capelinhos".
Economy
Fayal's economy is based on agriculture and related industries, cattle, and tourism. Its fast economic growth was propelled by the production of a blue-colored pastel plant that was used for dyes.
The economy of the island generated some prosperity until 1957, when the Capelinhos Volcano erupted in the western part of the island, reactivating emigration to North America, supported by promises of aid made by a Massachusetts senator to the affected populations.
The main agricultural resources of the island are potatoes, cereals, fruits, and wines, along with cattle (which makes up its dairy and meat industry). The city of Horta is the centre of commerce and services of the island.
In the 1960s, Portugal experienced economic growth, and an airport was opened; with it, tourists came. After Portugal's entry into the EEC, the standard of living rapidly grew and today the population generally prospers.
Demographics
Fayal's population is 14,785 (As of 2003). The only city on the island, Horta (9,563 inhabitants) has a port and a marina. The island also has a windmill that enhances the beauty of its landscape.
Culture
There are several festivals on Fayal, the most important ones being in the summer. The most popular ones are the Espírito Santo festivals occurring throughout the island between Ascension Day and August. Saint John is the patron saint of Horta, being celebrated has São João da Caldeira.
The island, like some other Azorean islands, produces cheeses and other milk products, along with cow meat, and by-products notable in Portugal, and it has a rich cuisine that also includes local sea-food.
Scrimshaw, handiwork made of whale teeth, is a traditional craft of the Azores. However, because of the prohibition on whale hunting in Portugal, some designs of this can easily cost hundreds of Euros, due to the rarity of whale teeth.
Sources
- Siebert L, Simkin T (2002-). Volcanoes of the World: an Illustrated Catalog of Holocene Volcanoes and their Eruptions. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-3, (http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/)