The Açores, officially known as Açores Autonomous Region, is an archipelago and an autonomous territory belonging to the Portuguese Republic, recognized since 1976, located in the Northeast Atlantic, with political and administrative autonomy.
The archipelago is consisted by three groups of islands, forming at all, 9 islands, which are: Eastern Group, with the islands of Santa Maria and São Miguel, the Central Group, with the islands of Terceira, Graciosa, Sao Jorge, Pico and Faial and the Western Group, with the islands of Flores and Corvo, all islands of volcanic origin.
The highest altitude of Açores, is located on the island of Pico, with 2345 meters, being the highest point of the Portuguese territory.
The discovery of the archipelago is attributed to the Portuguese navigator Diogo de Silves, in 1427, with the islands of Santa Maria, São Miguel and Terceira, the first one to have been inhabited. The island of Flores and Corvo, were the last to be discovered.
The name of the Azores is wrapped in some uncertainty, being attributed to the fact that its discoverers have thought viewing the bird of prey in the region, which in reality was the goshawk.
There is in the archipelago, more than one "Azorean pronunciation" which varies from island to island. The most known pronunciation is from the village of Rabo de Peixe, in São Miguel Island, being that inclusive in the island of São Miguel, there are different pronunciations.
The Azores archipelago has become over the years, a holiday destination, both nationally and internationally because of its landscapes as well as by its gastronomy. Mountains and valleys covered with unusual vegetation, beautiful lakes, craters of extinct volcanoes, steaming water springs, boiling mud, mysterious caves, make tat the Açores has a landscape very appreciated by all who visits the region.
The administrative capital since 1976 is the city of Ponta Delgada located on the Island of São Miguel and where there is the Regional Government of Açores. In Horta, in Faial Island, is located the Regional Parliament.
With more than five centuries of existence, Ponta Delgada, is a plan city, representing the biggest county of Açores and the one that has the biggest diversity of equipment. Recently, in 2008, its coastline was expanded with the inauguration of "Portas do Mar ", a project consisting by several underground parks, casinos, new shopping centers, amphitheaters, cinemas and various places for entertainment, from the authorship from the architect Manuel Salgado.
