Located between North America and Portugal, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, are the nine islands that make up the Azores islands. The first Portuguese explorers discovered the islands in the early 1400s, and they remain a part of Portugal today.
The islands are about 950 kilometers away from Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. The Azores were formed from volcanoes, and because of this, they have very rugged landscapes. Unlike other white sand beaches that one can find all over the world, the sand on the beaches of the Azores islands is darker and a bit thicker, as it originally came from volcanic stone.
Although all the islands arose from volcanoes, some have not had volcanic activity for quite some time, while other islands are still dealing with it.
There are nine main islands in the Azores, but they are very different from each other. For governmental purposes, they have been divided into three groups: the eastern, the central, and the western groups.
Azores - Western Group
The Western Group consists of the Flores and Corvo islands. These are the smallest of the very ancient islands and volcanoes. Flores is known for its many and beautiful flowers, and as well as its many waterfalls. Corvo is the smallest of all the islands, and the majority of its population lives in the town of Vila Nova do Corvo. This city is known as the smallest city in Europe.
Azores - Eastern Group
The eastern group of the Azores Islands includes the islands of Sao Miguel, Santa María, and the Islets Formigas (too small islands to show on a map, and they are used as nature reserves, although there are no plants or animals on them, only birds and aquatic animals).
Isla Sao Miguel, also known as Isla Verde, is the largest of the Azores, as well as the most populated. It has many coastal towns, as well as beaches. There are numerous enjoyable activities to take part in on this island, including sailing, whale watching, hiking, and horseback riding to name a few. The largest city on this island is Ponta Delgada, which is the capital of the Azores Islands.
The last of the nine islands is Santa María, which is the closest of the islands to Europe. This island has the warmest climate of the nine, as well as the best beaches of all the islands. Praia Formosa, one of the beaches on this island, is a narrow beach located in a bay, known for the "Mare de Agosto", a festival that is celebrated with musicians from all over the world.