The island of São Jorge is in the center of the central group of the Azores archipelago. It is distinguished from all the other islands by its profile characterized by its narrow width (8Km) and its length (55Km) which extends from Ponta do Rosais to the islet of Topo, thus resembling a sword, perhaps the sword of the Holy Warrior who gave this island its name, São Jorge?
However, this island is endowed with a vast and rich natural heritage that differentiates it from the other islands of the archipelago, especially the fact that it has no beaches due to its rocky coast with high cliffs, but in compensation it is provided with countless fajãs that make it unique. The majority of these fajãs are inhabited, but with complicated access. Amongst many, Fajã do Ouvidor, one of the biggest in the island; Fajã das Almas; Fajã dos Vimes; Fajãde São João, Fajã dos Cubres; and Fajã da Caldeira do Santo, the best known and which has a lagoon, Lagoa da Fajã do Santo Cristo, where there are clams, being an attractive point for surfing. The municipality of Velas is also located in a lava-shaped fajã, very common in the south of this island, due to its less steep coastline, which has allowed the population agglomeration in larger scale and respective development of this area.
In general, the island of São Jorge, in addition to its marvellousfajãs, is characterised by its high and rugged coastline, as well as a mountain range, where at Pico da Esperança it reaches the maximum altitude of the island, with 1053m. The island’s geological origin is due to the fissural volcanism associated with the Falha de São Jorge, which led to successive straight volcanic eruptions that eventually created the island, the central part of which is a very high platform in relation to sea level, with its coasts excessively steep, almost vertical, in some places on the island, especially on the northern coast.
The contrast between the blue of the sea and the green of its dense vegetation is quite visible on this island, as well as with the pastures, which predominate as the main vegetation cover on the island today. It is in the fajãs where it is possible to find a very rich range of plants which constitute the very valuable ecosystem of the island. Crustaceans and molluscs are living beings that mark their presence along the coast of São Jorge, enriching the island’s ecosystem.
Last modified: 15 de February, 2022
