AZORES, a-z6rz' (Portug. Acores, so called from aeores, hawks, found there). A group of islands in the Atlantic ocean, situated about 800 miles west of Portugal. to which they belong (Map: Africa, B 1). They extend over 400 miles, front about latitude 37° to 40' N., and front longitude 25° to 31 ° DV W., and occupy an area of 1005 square miles. Excluding the unin habited reefs, the group numbers nine islands, divided into three sub-groups; the eastern, con sisting of the islands of Sao Miguel, or Saint 'Michael's (299 square miles), and Santa Maria (38 square miles) ; the central group, embracing the islands of Pico (173 square miles), Terceira (164 square miles), Sao Jorge (91 square miles), Fayal (69 square miles). and Graciosa (24 square miles) : and the western group, consisting of Flores (54 square miles) and 7 square miles). The entire archi pelago is of volcanic origin and very mountain ous, the highest volcanic summit being Pico Alto (7540 feet) on the 1sland of Pico. The volcanic origin of the islands is shown by the large num ber of hot springs scattered all over the group, and by the earthquakes from which the islands have suffered even in comparatively recent times. Streams are abundant. The climate is mild, and snow is seen very sellout. The highest tempera ture is about S6°, but the humidity is sometimes excessive. The Azores are becoming gradually a winter resort. The native flora is very poor, numbering only 40 out of the 440 species found on the islands. The same is even more true of the fauna, the indigenous species being confined only to a variety of cow of a very low breed and a hullfinch. The soil is very fertile, and the mild climate allows of the cultivation of southern fruits, such as olives, oranges, grapes, and bananas. In general the flora of the Azores re sembles that of Spain.
Agriculture is greatly impeded by the un equal distribution of land, and the emigration of the landless population to British Guiana, West Indies, and South America is steadily in creasing. The Azores carry on a considerable trade in frnit with Portugal, England, Brazil, and North America. Oranges, formerly the chief article of export, are now gradually being re pla•ed by pineapples and corn. The imports come ehietly front Great Britain. The Azores have only a few safe harbors, the chief among, which is that of Angra, the capital of the archi pelago, on the Island of Terceira. Administra tively, the archipelago is considered a provinee of Portugal, and is divided into the three dig triets of Angra do Heroismo, Horta, and Ponta Delgada. Population. in MO, 255,594. consist ing chiefly of Portuguese. with a slight admix ture of negroes, mulattoes, and some settlers from Great Britain.
The discovery of Phomician coins on the Island of COVVO would indicate that the Azores were visited by Carthaginian traders. They appear on the maps of the media•val Arabian geograph ers, and on an Italian map of 1351. They were discovered for Portugal by Gonealo Velho Cabral and others, between 1431 and 1460. They were then uninhabited. Two of the islands were named Corvo and Sao Jorge, from Corvos rinos and Saint Jorsi, which, according to the maps of the Fourteenth Century, had been pre viously seen in the western ocean. In 1496, Alfonso V. made a life-grant of the Gland of Fayal to his aunt, the Duchess of Burgundy. and from thi; circumstance many settlers migrated thither from Flanders.
Consult : Ray, The A.zores (Washington. 1892) ; P. T. L.. "Azorean Economies," in The Nation, Vol. LXX111. (New York, 1901).