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33-502: Meaning "big fajã ", a special term roughly referring to a coastal scree influenced by lava , as the town resides down from a notable cliff-face. The western coast of Flores was slowly occupied in the middle of the 16th century, with the first population centers forming in the beginning of the 17th century. The first settlers were captained by João Soares, from the island of São Miguel , and who settled in Lajedo . The fertile land permitted

66-450: A chapel in Ponta was completed, to the invocation of Nossa Senhora da Fátima. Landslides around the area of Ponta da Fajã in 1987 resulted in the declaration of this zone as high risk resulting in the express prohibition of new buildings and future remodeling of existing homes. Further landslides around Covas, in 1991, resulted in new laws to restrict residents in the area, which was ignored by

99-456: A coastal volcanic cone eroded by ocean forces. It extends steeply to a height of 34 metres (112 ft) above sea level. It was formed from irregular lava flows that produced many submarine cavities along the islet's relief, with sand and boulders accumulating around the shoreline over time. The islet is an elevated area that includes two rock outcroppings above the water's surface. A deep channel separates Monchique Islet from Flores, with only

132-480: A cradle for a few personalities, who have become notable in Azorean history, including specifically: Faj%C3%A3 Fajã ( Portuguese pronunciation: [fɐˈʒɐ̃] , of unknown etymology ) is a Portuguese term of obscure origin used to describe supratidal talus at the foot of coastal cliffs, caused by landslides or lava flows. Although relatively common world-wide, they are distinctive features of

165-413: A greater part of the local activities (but generally hovered around 20% of activities), and primarily tourism, commerce and complementary services. Generally, Fajã Grande is typical of rural associativism, an agricultural centre underpinned by the socio-cultural dynamism of sport and social celebration. Fajã Grande includes several collective groups involved in daily life: Fajã Grande has, over time, been

198-697: A length of 0.64 kilometres (0.40 mi) to the west of Ponta de Fenais . The maximum depth of water in the coastal channel is 40 metres (130 ft), with water temperatures varying between 17–23 °C (63–73 °F). The islet is the centre of a region of great biodiversity, with 96 identified species, with a Margalef index of 11.0 biodiversity. The flora along its flanks are dominated by an iridescent brown algae ( Dictyota dichotoma ), while numerous fauna species including limpets ( Patella ulyssiponensis and Patella aspera ), barnacles ( Megabalanus azoricus and Megabalanus tintinnabulum ), and Mediterranean rainbow wrasse ( Coris julis ) are found in

231-515: A new importance to the village, also justifying a rethink of the existing administrative divisions. Finally, on 4 April 1861, King Pedro V of Portugal decreed the creation of a new ecclesiastical parish, to include Ponta, Fajã Grande and Cuada, centred on the Church of São José da Fajã Grande (the responsibility of the Bishop of Angra , friar Estêvão de Jesus Maria, dated 20 June 1861. The parochial church

264-522: A rock shoal called the Baixa Raza separating it from the Flores shoreline. Since the channel is between 45 metres (148 ft) and 55 metres (180 ft) deep, ships are able to anchor in the bay, aiding visits to the area and providing shelter from storms. The deep channel is considered safe for navigation, though ships must navigate with care to avoid surface rocks. The Baixa Raza rock formation extends over

297-618: Is a small uninhabited islet off the coast of the island of Flores , west of the village of Fajã Grande , in the western part of the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores . It is the westernmost point of Portugal and, if considered part of Europe (although it sits on the North American Plate ), is Europe's westernmost point as well. Approachable only by boat, the 43-metre (141 ft) deep bay provides opportunities for scuba diving during

330-464: Is an almost sheer cliff face, approximately 600 meters in some places. The rest of Fajã Grande is formed from erosional forces along the Rocha da Fajã, producing a rich soil, although rocky, that is nutrient-rich due to the abundance of water from river tributaries. The escarpment is also a protective feature, permitting the cultivation of orchards and small parcels, and yams in the well-irrigated parcels along

363-405: Is located more than 1.6 kilometres (1.0 mi) north-northwest of the island of Flores, in a bay between Ponta de Fenais ( Point Fanaes or Fanais Port ) and Fajã Grande. The islet is located on the North American Plate between the two westernmost Azorean islands of Flores and Corvo . The islet is a solid monolith of black basaltic rock consisting of a vertical wall formation, remnants of

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396-608: The Azores and Madeira , as well as of the Canary Islands , where the equivalent term in Canarian Spanish is fajana ( Spanish pronunciation: [faˈxana] ). The term also designates a small flat piece of land, generally cultivable and located by the sea, formed of materials fallen from cliffs. Another Canarian word for lava fajanas is isla baja , literally, "low island". Fajãs are created from collapsing cliffs or lava flows and are identifiable along

429-505: The Azores but are concentrated on the island of São Jorge . The island is volcanic , with cliffs that run down to the coast, and fajãs that extend into the sea as a result of these cliffs collapsing. The long fetch of the Azores is a high-energy wave climate, and the steep submarine slopes and absence of shallow shelves produce patterns of wave shoaling , refraction , and diffraction , especially during storms. This leads to fragmentation of

462-463: The 20 inhabitants, who have maintained existing buildings . The village is located in an extensive fajã (a small area of flat fertile land at the bottom of a seaside cliff composed of volcanic and geomorphological debris) on the western coast and delimited by the Rocha da Fajã escarpment (that extends from the northwest to southeast border) and the Ribeira Grande river along the south. The escarpment

495-461: The District of Horta attempted to resolve the call by its residents to create a new civil parish. The debate was finally ended by the civil governor, Luís Teixeira de Sampaio, who reported on 3 April 1857, that a single parish of Fajã Grande was desirable, owing to its distance from the community of Fajãzinha (then parish seat), the size of its community, and the problem caused by annual floodings along

528-521: The Ducks ) is located at the base of the plateau. Off the western coast, the Monchique Islet , is the westernmost point of the Azores (and Europe). The escarpment surrounds the community composed of three nuclei: Fajã Grande (the largest population), Ponta da Fajã Grande (a narrow strip between the coast and Rocha da Fajã), and Cuada (a settlement located on a plateau bordering the parish of Fajãzinha to

561-553: The Riberia Grande river, which regularly cut links annually. Local narratives mention several instances when the Ribeira Grande impeded travel to Fajãzinha, resulting in the faithful having services at the Pedra da Missa (English: Stone of Mass ), an elevated point on the river bank where they gathered, prayed and then dispersed after celebrating the liturgy. Governor Sampaio also noted that American whaling and high-seas travel had brought

594-519: The archipelago lived in fear of pirates, Fajã Grande maintained a collaborative relationship and sold consumables to local crews. It was likely one of the most prosperous communities in the western coast, resulting in its de-annexation from the neighbouring parish of Lajes das Flores , in July 1676. To create the new parish of Fajãs , the local community in Ponta da Fajã was de-annexed from the neighbouring parish of São Pedro de Ponta Delgada and integrated into

627-406: The coast as "flat" surfaces, relative to other geological forms. Tides and tidal currents have only minor influence on coastal morphology, and therefore sedimentation and deposits there became permanent. Composed of fertile soils, these microclimates allow the cultivation of a variety of staple and exotic plants, such as coffee . These debris fields exist throughout the archipelago of

660-688: The coast into several dynamic cells whose sediment alongshore is limited by impermeable boundaries. There are fajãs on both sides of the island: along the southern coast are the notable fajãs of Velas, Vimes, Bodes, Além, São João, Cardoso, and Alabaçal, while in the north a succession of much smaller fajãs result from the collapse of land cut by small ravines. Although many of these fajãs have been abandoned, mills and fountains remain iconic outposts along hiking trails. The fajãs are fertile and, historically used to cultivate yams , maize , and vegetables, although coffee , vineyards , and tropical fruits were also grown there. Several fajãs are scattered along

693-506: The cultivation of woad , one of the most important commercial ventures in the Azores. As the Azorean chronicler Father Gaspar Frutuoso writing in the 16th century, indicated, that the colonists benefited from the abundance of water and easy access to the sea: Although being populated for less than a century, Fajã Grande was already a center of commercial activity; caravels arriving from India were likely to stopover in Fajã Grande since it

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726-472: The day in the summer. The islet and the waters around it are protected for their rich biodiversity . Ninety-six species of flora and fauna have been identified congregating in the waters near the islet, including brown algae , limpets , barnacles , and Mediterranean rainbow wrasse . Historically, the islet functioned as an astronomical or celestial navigational guide and reference mark for mariners, who calibrated their navigational equipment by referencing

759-640: The escarpment. Situated on the plateau are four large crater lakes, Lagoa da Caldeira Funda ( Lake of the Deep Crater ), Lagoa da Caldeira Comprida ( Lake of the Long Crater ) and Lagoa da Caldeira Branca ( Lake of the White Crater ) which are full throughout the year, and the peat-covered Lagoa da Caldeira Seca ( Lake of the Dry Crater ) which only occasionally becomes flooded. The Lagoa dos Patos ( Lake of

792-578: The inner straits. Measures to conserve the islet and its waters fall under the Plano do Ordenamento da Orla Costeira (POOC) Flores (English: Organizing the Flores Coastline Plan ), which identifies the islet as part of an area of conservation and preservation for ecological and tourism reasons. The islet itself is identified as "vulnerable" and designated areas have been marked for terrestrial and marine species protection, limiting human use and access to

825-468: The island. Between 1960 and 1980, approximately 60% of the active population emigrated to the United States and Canada. Fajã Grande had always been characterized by its land and connection to the sea, resulting in a considerable part of its population employed in the primary industries (about 50%), that included agriculture, livestock husbandry and fishing. Over time, secondary industries began to occupy

858-464: The islet and surrounding waters. Visits to Monchique Islet are considered ideal in late spring or early summer (June and July) when the weather is good and vegetation is green and flowers bloom. The airport nearest the islet is Flores Airport in Santa Cruz das Flores . Locally, the islet is only accessible by boat. The water around the coast is suitable for scuba diving as the underwater visibility

891-447: The islet on long Atlantic crossings. Its unique geological formation also attracted visitors traveling between Europe and America, intersecting here on their way to the ports of Lajes or Santa Cruz on Flores Island. The steep rock slopes of the islet's shoreline served as shelter from strong gales. The islet gave its name to the defunct monthly newspaper O Monchique , the last regularly-published newspaper on Flores. The islet

924-466: The new administrative and ecclesiastical division. The formal delimitation of the parish was presided by Father Domingos Nunes Pereira, and the new Fajãs parish priest Father André Alves de Mendonça, on 12/13 July 1676. Writing around 1720, Father António Cordeiro , affirmed that the Fajãs included about 80 homes. The creation of an autonomous parish in Fajã Grande dates back to 1855, when the administration of

957-470: The northern and southern coasts, including the fajãs of Santo Cristo and Cubres, with their distinctive saltwater lagoons. One of the more unique harvests occurs at Fajã of Caldeira do Santo Cristo, where the lagoon supports cockles : this makes Santo Cristo a popular destination for the unique gastronomy of the Azores. Monchique Islet Monchique Islet ( Portuguese : Ilhéu de Monchique , Portuguese pronunciation: [iˈʎɛw ðɨ mũˈʃikɨ] )

990-414: The river. Above the Rocha, about 550 metres (1,800 ft), the parish extends onto an irregular plateau covered in natural vegetation and peat. The excessive precipitation in this region, which usually exceeds 4,000 millimetres (160 in) annually, means that the river-valleys are always flooded or inundated. The northwest border extends along the western coast of the parish on a strip of land adjacent to

1023-453: The south). Cuada, for many years, was a collection of uninhabited homes, but today it has been rejuvenated by rural tourism, and classified as an Area of Municipal Interest . The port at Fajã Grande, once an important commercial port, has lost much of its importance and is now used recreationally and, only rarely, for disembarking commercial goods. The entire zone is valued for its coastal waters, attracting both swimmers and surfers from around

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1056-480: Was constructed from the small chapel (which was built in 1755, and blessed on 24 May 1757); the new temple was blessed on 1 August 1850, after three years of construction (it was finally completed in 1849). Due to further support from American emigrant José Luís da Silveira, the church was remodelled in 1880. A new church was later constructed in the area of Ponta da Fajã (the Church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo) and remained in use until 1922. Similarly, on 28 September 1969,

1089-528: Was one of the first ports to be discovered on their return. On the port of Fajã Grande, Father José António Camões , noted the following about its installations: The fertility of the land permitted the cultivation of the lichen Rocella tinctoria ( Roccellaceae ), a plant sought after by many of the commercial interests in the region eager to support the dye industries of Europe. The abundance of fresh water, and port, also made Fajã Grande an important stopover for pirates and privateers; while other communities in

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