tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74960601278198775832024-02-06T23:33:48.124-08:00The Azores IslandsAll the information and local insights you need for the most wonderful holidays in the Azores Islands.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-74493112822913178532008-07-30T08:00:00.001-07:002008-07-30T08:00:55.851-07:00Açores - Azores - São Miguel - Furnas<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7369235@N06/2711028644/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/2711028644_ce9f645978.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7369235@N06/2711028644/">Açores - Azores - São Miguel - Furnas</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/7369235@N06/">Luis Miguens</a>.</span></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-43255684027609736272008-06-04T04:24:00.002-07:002008-06-04T04:49:29.743-07:00Casa do Monte - Rural Turism<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The green of the tree-lined avenue of plane-trees with its blue hydrangeas are the best invitation to enter and visit the Casa do Monte (House of the Mountain).You'll be able to usufruct the beautiful garden's nock, explore walking trails through a beautiful countryside, bicycle riding, horse back riding, to play croquet, swimming in the crystal clear waters of Baía das Capelas, to visit interesting tourist places around and playing golf in the Campo da Batalha (Batalha's golf course). <br><br></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207988774997323058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoA-4KTaV4clzKxfnFAU2jpPdUQq765lHc_u66go8-9ag7ROeVCu6X6jukhZwixF0d8c0SvC8MpjWno7LseZGSKMFUWPG2ExrZH6hiJJy36WK7-rA9QD-CZMGJB7N4HFVCwHhJt4KrhoM/s400/ext1.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="justify"><br />The Casa do Monte is situated in an agricultural property, a family property for three centuries, with unusual typical features, offering a variety of agricultural activities. If you like to be in contact with the nature and animals, it's a goog place to visit. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Casa do Monte is decorated in a tipical azorean style and has five bedrooms with private bathroom, a cozy living-room with fire place and a solarium terrace with a break taking panoramic view of the moutains and the island's north coast sea.The brekfast (homemade) is served in a traditional Azorian kitchen, in a calm and relaxed environment that brings the nostalgy of the past. </span></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207988779292290370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqz_ZSPG_0Hd0iqbCLUi9n6mE19eWvmKQIxN2Be87is5ryXI55qXmVr-fUl0Xj3JaJbjcukEAiK1_mPDTz7kwaGGyT9A4NY8FbHnNiYiHd_mk_kyMs4bzOaExRXO5YmIo44cFV91Md3ll/s400/int1.jpg" border="0" />It also has a beautiful XVII century style dining-room.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-78998098030389542642008-05-30T07:40:00.000-07:002008-05-30T07:44:10.157-07:00Casa da Madrinha - Godmothers House - Rural Tourism<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Godmother's house is a "treat" right at the Vila do Nordeste. Two cosy houses to choose from right at the entrance of one the most beautifull villages in the Azores and a third house in the centre of the vila give a warm welcome to thoso who decide to stay around for a few days. It is the ideal place for those who want far and close to everything.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206181358269885730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6iJ1rwnZTvwWkEwo-T-KUL2GiSlVd5a2Djp9mR5PY4Gy87GTPN8rNcuOyYNVQyXYF8hhtT-tq4W-_eQVWmeS8cyG8xoryKe2s_JpUc_d-VTH1SZcsG3NSty_NZlHsLoWJuaoQTKZDwWp/s400/new11.jpg" border="0" /><br />Northeast offers to its visitants landscapes, crystal clear waters and an absolute sense of peace to who ever intends to rest. Everybody who visit this village is suprised and amazed with its exuberant beauty promissing to come back. </span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Godmothers House enterprise, is located in the extreme north of the island of S. Miguel, in the vilige of Nordeste, one of the most flowery places of Portugal. This village, iss bessed with pretty sight spots and leisure zones in touch with nature, where people are used to enjoy meals in the fresh air, mainly barbecues. It is in this part of the island, that it is possible to enjoy the beauty of sunrise.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Situated in the heart of the village of Nordeste, our houses are 2 minutes walk from every main building: health center, restaurants, mini-markets, shops, church, City Hall, post office and pharmacy. Five minutes by car to get to the natural swimming pool of the "Boca da Ribeira" and ten minutos by car to the beach of "Lombo Gordo" as well to the viewspots of "Ponta do Sossego" and "Ponta da Madrugada". </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-82137718593330024762008-05-30T07:23:00.002-07:002008-05-30T07:46:52.833-07:00Casa da Japoneira - Faial Island<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Casa da Japoneira is located near the sea, on the southern coast of Faial Island and its origin goes back to a two floors house with well, built in the 19 th century.<br />The singularity, the architectural and cultural interest of this rural house, justified its inclusion in Horta’s Heritage Inventory.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206177574403697938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELm8ye3Dgqoq2TqEGSVY2Ku7wBWDELgR0JDUggnoAAAybNMfv6sMGO3b9mPllybwIoc1ov_YKkd9MnrAKt58WGFzMuEhpbsB1TFTK2WvGR6ktZuzKT7QdfxE-yF0zzvckU1_jJ_x7LJ7u/s400/Exteriores_III.jpg" border="0" /><br />This small Rural Tourism unit is the best way of travelling into the Azorean culture and traditions.<br />During the house’s recovery works there was the concern to maintain the original architectural traces and, at the same time, adapt it to the modern demands of comfort. Therefore were projected double rooms and twins with toilet, reading and living rooms. Air-conditioning, cable TV, telephone and wireless Internet were installed.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In the exterior there are balconies with panoramic views to the neighbour island Pico and areas of entertainment in a garden of about 1000m2, where the camellias are the predominant trees.<br />Casa da Japoneira puts at your service fishing material, as the house is located very near to the Lajinha bathing areas, a privileged place for fishing or sea bathing.<br />There is also the possibility of making walking and biking tours and, with previous booking, tours on the island with official national guide.</span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Casa da Japoneira is located on the planes of the parish of Feteira, 5 km to the west of the town of Horta and 6 km to the east of the airport. Departing from Horta, in a 15 min. boat trip, you can visit Pico Island, if the Azores High allows it, and climb to Portugal’s highest point.<br />On the neighbour island of S. Jorge you can taste its famous cheese and visit the “fajãs” </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-60477493690101599332008-05-29T14:30:00.000-07:002008-05-30T07:37:15.019-07:00Gastronomy - Flores Island - Traditional Food Specialities - Azores<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">Besides the meat and fish recipes that can be said to be "Azorean", since they can be found all over the archipelago, Flores also offers such local specialities as watercress soup, boiled pork with vegetables, tripe, yams with tasty sausages, beans with pigs head and pasteis de ervas marinhas.</span><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHbC9n892i6mBYwl_5xWL6O3U1z-9R3DHGIKQP6KSNZyo-qF0sUUcg4YWpMZiKZxg5R5N0WNB4pAKMaAtkMcsPiI-IYoL9GLnt9rWgxHe-8W1R75RbpQpu5agQ_d4E1N72mxI4O3XMPme/s1600-h/70082251_31511f99eb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163629461793365266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHbC9n892i6mBYwl_5xWL6O3U1z-9R3DHGIKQP6KSNZyo-qF0sUUcg4YWpMZiKZxg5R5N0WNB4pAKMaAtkMcsPiI-IYoL9GLnt9rWgxHe-8W1R75RbpQpu5agQ_d4E1N72mxI4O3XMPme/s400/70082251_31511f99eb.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-size:85%;" >Boiled pork with vegetables, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/_lotta/">*Lotta Gallery</a></span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">The tasty cheese produced on the island, the soft creamy butter, and the delicious honey which has the scent of flowers always present on Flores throughout the year, complement the meals. Not forgetting of course the crabs, goose barnacles and limpets found on the rocks washed by the sea.</span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-30003105237083274982008-05-29T10:33:00.000-07:002008-05-29T10:35:33.370-07:00The Cuada Village - The Cottage<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">During the mid sixties most of the residents of the Aldeia da Cuada followed other azorians and emigrated to the New World. The Village, where, even today, motorized vehicles never arrived, was almost deserted and its houses abandoned. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The touristic village of the Cuada brings together the old and the modern, having salvaged the original houses and adapted them to today's comfort. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Equipped with kitchen and bathroom, as well as spacious bedrooms, the 14 cottages make up the touristic village of the Cuada; respecting all of the safety laws of modern accomodation, without losing any of the rural designs of its stone construction. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Only 2 kilometres away you will find the seaside town of Faja Grande, one of the most sought after summer spots on the Island of Flores. Here a deep blue sea invites you to an invigorating swim or simply enjoy the fine cuisine at the local restaurant.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-91857003536067166252008-05-29T10:25:00.000-07:002008-05-29T10:33:24.817-07:00The Cuada Village - The Village<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Situated on the west coast of the Island of Flores, on a small plateau overlooking the mouth of the Ribeira Grande River, municipality of Lajes, the Aldeia da Cuada is one of the most beautiful azorian sceneries. A place where time stood still and where nature performed its best, leaving it untouched and full of life! </span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">At the Aldeia da Cuada only the stone walls and the basalt cottages stand out amongst the verdant fields, where the fresh smell of flowers and fruit trees drift.<br />The places surrounding the village suggests outings of true expectations and sheer pleasures.<br />Close by, a mere 2 kilometres away, you will find the seaside town of Faja Grande, one of the most sought after summer spots on the Island of Flores; where a deep blue sea invites you to an invigorating swim. After having worked up your appetite the local restaurant will be pleased to serve you some of the island´s famous dishes. </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205854086056897762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh48DE6r-CQmC7HKNMevioxtnMikB-7pJ67OzSHwMdTFC3R0xLfabVyxF52Tlq4-YS5G09yhwrQzkbhGz5ex8UFoSi3zq06-D62pcT2o6Mx0SytP0siT4eeMMo0ilTnteT2aD9jH3zVaH_C/s400/fotos-bloco.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">At night, in the silence of this small sanctuary, you can almost hear the sound of the sun falling against the horizon...afterwards, everything seems even more serene, but at the same time more intense, fragrant, inexplicably captivating, as if part of a poem.</span></div><div align="justify"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-44988693256814074402008-04-30T06:26:00.000-07:002008-04-30T06:27:34.152-07:00The Formigas Bank - Existing/Proposed Protection<div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">The Formigas Bank became a nature reserve in 1988 by Law Decree (see DLR no. 11/88/A of 4 April with DLR no. 8/90/A of 17 May), comprising an area limited by a 5 nm radius from the<br />lighthouse on the Formigas Islets and a 5 nm radius from the shallowest point of the Dollabarat Reef. The habitats encompassed by this protected area range from the emerged area of the Formigas Islets to depths of more than -1700 m in places.<br />Afraction of the reserve (3628 ha, extending only to 200 m depth) was designated as a Site of Comunity Importance (SCI, Natura 2000 network) because of its reefs, bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta).</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-50493905008123276502008-04-30T06:23:00.000-07:002008-04-30T06:26:03.675-07:00The Formigas Bank - Human Impacts<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Due to the extraordinary clarity of the mid-ocean waters which enhance the exuberance of these communities and the beauty of the seabed even further, one can hardly imagine that this splendid seascape could suffer from environmental degradation.<br />Local and historical knowledge, </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">however, suggest that there has been significant depletion of some of the marine resources around the Formigas Islets in particular, with noticeably fewer commercial species such as locust lobsters and limpets, as well as some demersal fish species. The variety and intensity of fishing over the bank which is expected to further increase due to the depletion of fishing grounds in the Eastern Azores, are the principal threat to the marine resources of the area and result from </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">both commercial and recreational activities.<br />The remoteness of the Formigas Bank makes it difficult to enforce existing legal regulations, forbidding the collection of any molluscs, </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">crustaceans or algae, sports fishing, spearfishing, fishing with trammel nets, bottom long lining (artisanal fishing with up to 14 m boats allowed). These activities increasingly threaten the ecological integrity of the Formigas Bank.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Research is directed at studying the movements of demersal fish across Azorean seamounts and assessing their role as spawning and nursery grounds. If these functions prove real, the impact of the extractive activities could have far-reaching implications for commercial fisheries.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-9864685236960025922008-04-30T05:50:00.000-07:002008-04-30T06:06:27.837-07:00The Formigas Bank - Biological Features<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The shallowest areas of the reefs are believed to be unique in the Azores, due to their dense and all cover of Cystoseira spp., as well as the high abundance and diversity of pelagic species occurring in large schools at large individual size. No similar subtidal Cystoseira stands have been recorded elsewhere in the archipelago and hence, they are supposed to be the marine biotope </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">with the highest plant biomass in the Archipelago.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Likewise, this is the only site in the Azores where laminarians (Laminaria ochroleuca) are known to occur. The fronds of Cystoseira are generally 20-30 cm long and provide shelter for large numbers of fish such as juvenile ornate wrasse (Thalassoma pavo), emerald wrasse (Centrolabrus caeruleus) and juvenile dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus).</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The deep crevices, which are common, provide a habitat for many benthic species such as locust lobster (Scyllarides latus), conger eel (Conger conger), moray eel (Muraenidae spp.), and larger forkbeard (Phycis phycis), and the vertical faces are colonised by sponges, cup corals and jewel </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">anemones.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The algal beds start to thin out below 30 m and are gradually replaced by communities dominated by encrusting species. Large colonies of the black coral (Antipathes wollastoni) occur on the vertical faces of the bedrock in these deeper areas.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurWszOjDb77jipdWj2aHwnuSLb6CMmGsTIm5GvmZYhHS2u2CDID0NVMd5R2sxqeBD0Ipvh5YR92VL3-cEi4ylI1GnYCbMdWhPgDg-p6B_5KWQuLgK4idFeHjmkn_bW1LChXwMaOXrrWJ0/s1600-h/1248216691_0af3a8b304.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurWszOjDb77jipdWj2aHwnuSLb6CMmGsTIm5GvmZYhHS2u2CDID0NVMd5R2sxqeBD0Ipvh5YR92VL3-cEi4ylI1GnYCbMdWhPgDg-p6B_5KWQuLgK4idFeHjmkn_bW1LChXwMaOXrrWJ0/s400/1248216691_0af3a8b304.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195023353405749074" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >Sicklefin mobulas (Mobula tarapacana)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The pelagic communities are particularly rich on and around the reefs, with large numbers of jacks (Seriola rivoliana and Seriola dumerili), striped barracuda (Sphyraena viridensis), Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda) and grey triggerfish (Balistes carolinensis), as well as smaller species that make up the basis of the food web, like boarfish (Capros aper) and snipefish (Macroramphosus scolopax).</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Large oceanic predators like manta rays (Manta birostris), sicklefin mobulas (Mobula tarapacana), Galapagos sharks (Carcharinus galapagensis) and the shortfin mako (Isurus oxirhyncus) are also often registered in the area. Large individuals of demersal species such as seachub (Kyphosus </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">sp.), comb grouper (Mycteroperca fusca), black-tail comber (Serranus atricauda) also occur frequently.</span><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis), pilot whales (Globicephala sp.) and loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) are frequently observed.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-15507914826183244792008-04-30T05:49:00.000-07:002008-04-30T05:50:20.315-07:00The Formigas Bank - Site Description<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The reefs forming the Formigas Bank are located in an area subject to strong currents and frequent large swells.</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">The Formigas Islets break the surface forming a linear group of rocky outcrops with a lighthouse on the largest landmass. The Dollabarat Reef is completely submerged but the shallowest area is only around 3 m deep so oceanic waves frequently break on its top.<br /></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">In calm seas, it is possible to go ashore on the Formigas Islets just below the lighthouse.</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: trebuchet ms;">Around the Islets the seabed drops steeply to a depth of 50-70 m on both sides and more gently at the northern and southern ends. The gradient is less marked around the Dollabarat Reef, which is also larger and more heterogeneous but nevertheless shows a steep profile.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-82015563253847465042008-04-30T05:41:00.000-07:002008-04-30T05:47:07.655-07:00The Formigas Bank - Potential Marine Protected Area<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Although the Formigas Bank has the status of a Nature Reserve since 1988 and a small part of it is a European Site of Community Importance (SCI), it further qualifies as an OSPAR MPA as it is representative of the wealth of biodiversity associated with the open ocean hard substrate environment. Moreover, the Formigas Bank is a good example of the remarkable ecological importance of seamounts in OSPAR Region V, the Wider Atlantic in terms of feeding grounds, spawning and nursery areas for many marine species. The Formigas Bank example highlights the necessity to weave a network of protected areas for the North-East Atlantic.</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-75873537044530421982008-04-30T05:30:00.000-07:002008-04-30T05:41:11.189-07:00The Formigas Bank - Location<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The Formigas Islets and Dollabarat Reef (known collectively as the Formigas Bank) are a remote group of shallow reefs in the southeastern part of the Azores, 33 and 20 nautical miles (nm) from the neighbouring islands of the archipelago. The position is approximately 37º19' N 24º40' W and 37º12' N 24º48' W.</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-6366911689131650282008-03-13T09:01:00.007-07:002008-04-30T03:05:35.764-07:00Tropical foliage - Azores - Açores<p style="text-align: justify;">In the early days, the conquistadors and other colonisers brought in many tropical plants for consumptive use from the tropical colonies overseas. Due to the volcanic fertile soils, many imported plants and fruits adapted quickly to their new environment. These days, you can find pineapples, lemons, oranges, passion fruits, bananas, tangerines, tea, tobacco and sweet potatoes in the fruit orchards close to the villages. The Yam or Taro plant originates in Southern Asia, and is used in many local dishes. Don’t try to eat it uncooked, the chemical components can cause severe injures to the throat, stomach and intestines.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-28396429320157264302008-03-13T09:01:00.005-07:002008-04-30T03:07:07.679-07:00Endemic flora - Azores - Açores<p style="text-align: justify;">Sixty-eight species of plants are endemic to the Azores, almost 8% of all species present. Endemic species are species that live in a limited geographical area. They evolved allopathically, which means that they have been geographically isolated for a period of time long enough to evolve into a new species. From these species new subspecies have evolved scattered over the different islands.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-5500472711878526422008-03-13T09:01:00.003-07:002008-04-30T03:05:23.367-07:00Flora - Azores - Açores<p style="text-align: justify;">The vegetation of the Azores is for a significant part determined by the Atlantic climate. Because the Azores are part of the Atlantic climate system (mild winters and relatively cool summers with heavy rains scattered throughout the year), the vegetation has a constant supply of water and consequently has an elongated growing season. Plants flower all year round and there is no true resting period in the annual cycle of the vegetation. The Azorean flora is not only characterised by the usual Atlantic plant species, but also by Mediterranean, tropical and a wide range of cosmopolitan species.<br /><br />Many plant species occurring on the islands are exotic and were introduced by the early colonisers as food resources. They thrive well in the warm and humid climate and were able to spread quickly in the absence of their natural enemies. At this moment, 200 out of the 500 plant species present on the islands are exotic. The beautiful ginger plant that originates from the Himalayas out-competes many endemic species plants in their natural habitat and has become a significant threat to the survival of many of them. The Hydrangea was introduced 150 years ago and since it is not grazed by cattle, it was used as a natural border in pastures. The beautiful Blue Trumpet flower was also brought in, just as the Yucca cactus, Canna Indica’s, Optuntia en Agaves. The natural vegetation above 1500 m is a dense laurel-juniper shrub-forest. The islands of Pico, Faial and Terceira have the largest remnants of these unique native forests. This forest ecosystem needs a high amount of precipitation and high air humidity to develop successfully.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-86037373568698903692008-03-13T09:01:00.001-07:002008-04-30T03:05:16.564-07:00Air - Azores - Açores<p style="text-align: justify;">At increasing altitudes, the temperature drops by 0.6º C with every 100 m. This leads to the condensation of the air’s’ moisture. The condensed moisture forms little drops of water, which in turn forms rain. Under these conditions wet forest or cloud forests have developed on the mountain slopes. From sea level the view on the outskirts of the island is often limited to an altitude of 500m where a long white cloud covers the mountain. The sudden appearance and disappearance of the clouds is a dynamic and fascinating process. Because of the high humidity you can get the impression that you are walking through the wet tropics. The dense vegetation and presence of a variety of incenses contribute to this feeling.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-76763347432900933432008-03-13T09:00:00.009-07:002008-04-30T03:05:10.976-07:00Fog - Azores - Açores<p style="text-align: justify;">Around the Azores the ocean air is clean and clear. It is a dynamic system, driven by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. The Azores have a subtropical climate which is characterised by mild winters (>15º C) and comfortable warm summers (~25º C). Around the tops of the mountains you can literally see the weather being formed. What starts out as an innocent little cloud around the mountain slopes can become Europe’s next depression. The night sky is often clear and reveals an overwhelming view of stars flickering over the ocean.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-46319160850185476802008-03-13T09:00:00.007-07:002008-04-30T03:05:06.163-07:00Vulcanisme - Azores - Açores<p style="text-align: justify;">The Azores were formed by an active volcanic hotspot at the bottom of the ocean on the crevice of three tectonic plates. The islands are the tops of volcanoes that rise from the depths of the ocean and reach up 1000-2000 m above sea level. The Pico Mountain is the highest mountain of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The evidence of volcanic activity from the past can still be seen, smelt, and felt on the different islands. Even quite recently, volcanic eruptions occurred on some of the islands.<br /><br />The volcanic rock found on the Azores is mainly composed of basaltic lava, which is a common bedrock material of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Powerful volcanic explosions in the region created so called Caldeiras, or craters, that are found scattered over the islands. On the continents, volcanic eruptions are usually followed by earthquakes, but on the oceanic islands this seismographic activity is minimal. However, on the Azores volcanic eruptions are accompanied by severe shocks. In 1998 an earthquake<br />destroyed many houses on the island of Faial.<br /><br />A volcano that produces lava with a low viscosity can easily push the lava through its main pipe. What is special about the Azores is the fact that the earths crust in the Azorean plateau is relatively thick. Consequently, the lava has to travel a longer distance to the earth’s surface, which causes changes in its composition. This results in a type of lava that is characterised by a high level of acidity, called trachiet. Trachiet is less fluid than other types of basaltic lava and therefore forms clumps. In order to push the lava through the channels in the earth’s crust an enormous pressure has to be build up. Often the lava crystallises within these channels, causing the pressure to rise even more. After a period of simmering or ‘sleeping’ the volcano has built up enough pressure to push the lava out.<br />During these eruptions not only the lava is blown out, but also a part of the volcano can explode.<br /><br />This is how the caldeiras and crater lakes on the islands were created. One can imagine that the volcano of Faial was once much higher than the Pico volcano. Its caldeira is located at an altitude of 1100m. The Pico Alte has not yet build up enough pressure to explode, being much younger than the volcanoes on the other islands. The Pico volcano has been inactive for many years. Only at the top, where small clouds of steam escape through tiny crevices, one can feel the warmth of the volcano. This simmering volcano could wake up again.<br />All of the islands except Corvo and Santa Maria have hot springs and sulphate springs. On Graciosa (Carapacho) and São Miguel (Furnas), health centres (Spas) have been built in order to benefit from these mineral springs.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-42087463028076214862008-03-13T09:00:00.005-07:002008-04-30T03:04:57.859-07:00Climate - Azores - Açores<p style="text-align: justify;">The Azores are situated in a climatologically high-pressure area. As a result, the weather pattern is significantly different from that of the mainland of Europe and is generally more gentle (subtropical). Even though the Azores are situated at the same latitude as countries such as Greece, Portugal and Spain, the humid sea climate is strikingly different from the Mediterranean climate.<br /><br />The islands are covered by green and flowering plants throughout the year. Different plant species alternate their flowering period over the seasons. During winter, many calla’s and amaryllises can be found while in summer, flowering ginger plants occur all over the islands. The patterns found in the vegetation are a result of severe rain showers which occur throughout the year, with a peak in the months of January and February. Towards the west end of the archipelago the amount of precipitation increases. Yearly, the westerly island of Flores receives twice as much rainfall as the easterly São Miguel.<br /><br />The average air temperature between May and September is 25 °C. Night-time temperatures during this season rarely drop lower than 18 ºC. The average winter temperature is 16 degrees and frost has only been recorded at altitudes higher than 2000 m above sea level. During summer, sea surface temperature steadily rises to about 25 degrees.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-69251755908597088632008-03-13T09:00:00.003-07:002008-04-30T03:04:49.883-07:00Pico - Azores - Açores<p style="text-align: justify;">The Azores are divided into three island groups. The island of Pico, the second largest island of the archipelago, is situated in the Central Group in the immediate vicinity of the islands of Faial, São Jorge, Graciosa and Terceira. Pico is primarily an enormous volcano, Pico-Alte, which is Portugal’s highest mountain, standing at 2351m. The geological backbone of the volcano stretches out far to the east where many volcanoes are closely linked at an altitude of 800-1100 m above sea level. Hidden in the valleys between these volcanoes you can find small lakes surrounded by heaths and dense cloud forests.<br />Closer to the coast, the small villages breathe a Mediterranean atmosphere. Surrounding the villages, you will see typical, staged terraces where the local people grow vegetables, wine grapes and other fruits and graze their cattle. But it is the ocean surrounding Pico that is the most fascinating wonder of the Azores. These waters are the unique habitat of more than 25 species of whales and dolphins (pagina water- cetacean species).</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-37236877690163065712008-03-13T09:00:00.001-07:002008-04-30T03:04:44.131-07:00The Azores archipelago - Azores - Açores<p style="text-align: justify;">Situated on the Mid-Atlantic ridge, in the middle of the deep blue Atlantic Ocean, lie the nine islands which form the Azorean archipelago. In the 15th century, the early Portuguese pioneers accidentally discovered the Azores in their search for the “Promised Land”. They had sailed over 1500 km from the port of Lisbon when they mistakenly took Buzzards for Hawks hovering over the Atlantic Ocean. Translated to Portuguese, Hawk means ‘Açores’, which became the name of the newly discovered land.<br /><br />From the depths of the ocean, the Azores rise far above sea level. These incredible islands are surrounded by a mystical haze, which encloses their astonishing mountain landscapes, peaceful valleys, wide variety of exotic and endemic plants and its magical volcanic craters and lakes.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-69150235727356878682008-03-07T06:14:00.000-08:002008-03-07T06:26:26.302-08:00Diving - Underwater - Azores - Açores<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Scuba diving is among the best in the world, despite (or because!) the cold Atlantic conditions. Yet, the Azores are rated as the new discovery in the diving business. Most diving locations guarante an encounter with the big fishes of the Atlantic and offer spectacular lava formations.</span><br /></div><div style="font-family: trebuchet ms; text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We frequently observe large schools of makreles (e.g. Trachinotus ovatus, Trachurus picturatus), barakudas (Sphyraena viridensis), yellow-fin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and trigger fish (Balister carolinensis). Common sting rays (Taeniura grabata) grow to an enormous size in these waters and even spectacular encounters with large mantas (Manta birostris) are not uncommon.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUWfr7T7AEKms97jC6sqtrYIssViMp30jBRJshQWmKzs8ezvVF3-kvUZN9n2dcA6igYv5ow5J7G0fTG_RRzBzw-ya8ysTfWW9mD_OYWuDIa8Cr9mFlekXcBR6QyuAca6WmwENso_C2YUG/s1600-h/503244212_69542ce49f.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUWfr7T7AEKms97jC6sqtrYIssViMp30jBRJshQWmKzs8ezvVF3-kvUZN9n2dcA6igYv5ow5J7G0fTG_RRzBzw-ya8ysTfWW9mD_OYWuDIa8Cr9mFlekXcBR6QyuAca6WmwENso_C2YUG/s400/503244212_69542ce49f.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175004763078037010" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The underwater scenery alters between basaltic rock formations with canyons and caves and open sand flats. Each little cave or rock can be home to a variety of large and small marine animals, such as moray eels, octupus, lobster, spiral tube worms, sea urchins and sea spiders. Night diving is spectacular and amazingly easy at selected sheltered spots along the coast.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">During night dives we can see the dazzling colours of hugh swarms of small shrimps, as well as nudibranchs, Alicia mirabilis anemonees, and, depending on the time of the year, also biolumines-cent plankton (causing the so-called ocean glow).</span><br /></div></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-56565957939511290602008-03-03T07:10:00.005-08:002008-03-03T07:12:45.344-08:00A pastoral way of life - Azores - Açores<p style="text-align: justify;">Azoreans are very proud of their islands and they are always ready to welcome visitors. As members of the European Union, they have built an infrastructure which facilitates that aim. Nevertheless, visitors can still feel that they have been plunged into a kind of dream world that reflects an unspoiled, peaceful, pastoral way of life which is difficult to find elsewhere nowadays.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7496060127819877583.post-82433804007453957982008-03-03T07:10:00.003-08:002008-03-03T07:12:37.156-08:00Pineapples - Azores - Açores<p style="text-align: justify;">Sao Miguel is also an important producer of pineapples. I suppose because we live in a mainly tropical country (Mexico) that happily produces pineapples ... But how could anyone consider the Azores tropical, being located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean? We learned the answer when we visited a pineapple 'plantation' and discovered it was inside a greenhouse! In fact, they have a different house for each stage of the plant's life, and it takes two years for a pineapple to be ready to eat! We then understood why a slice of that fruit, for dessert, might cost as much as three Euros!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1