Faial Island
Faial Island
Faial Island, also known in English as Fayal, is a Portuguese island belonging to the archipelago of the Azores. The Capelinhos Volcano, the westernmost point of the island, may arguably be considered the westernmost point of Europe, its largest city is Horta.
Horta is the main municipality and city. The population count taken in 2011 was 15,038 in an area of 173.06 square kilometres. The city of Horta itself has a population of about 7,000 so its not a big place by any means.
Horta's marina is a primary stop for yachts crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and its walls and walkways are covered with paintings created by visitors noting the names of their vessels, crews, and the years they visited. Peter's Cafe Sport, is a bar located across from the marina that houses the island's scrimshaw museum, a collection of artefacts carved from whale tooth and jawbone. Peter's is a point of reference for transatlantic yachters and sailors.
Its nearest island neighbours, Pico (east across the channel) and São Jorge (northeast across the channel) form an area commonly known as the Triângulo. The island has also been referred to as the Ilha Azul (English: Blue Island), derived from the writings of Portuguese poet Raul Brandão. This is due to the large number of hydrangeas that bloom each year during the summer months.
Along with other islands in the Azores archipelago, Faial is of volcanic origin and is close to the tectonic divide between the European and North American Plates.
The nature of the stratovolcano structure results in an island that converges at the central Caldera Volcanic Complex, although the highest point occurs along the southern rim, at the peak of Cabeço Gordo (1,043 m above sea level). The Caldeira (Caldera) has an almost circular 2000 metre perimeter, with a 400 m depth below the summit of Cabeço Gordo (almost 570 m above sea level). Its centre is broken by water marshes, thickets, and minor cinder cones, and surrounded by almost vertical cliffs with diverse vegetation, both endemic or invasive to Macaronesia.
Climate
Faial has a humid subtropical climate with some Mediterranean influences. The average temperature is around (63.5 – 64.4 °F), (68 °F) during the day is not uncommon and (59 °F) at night.
It has very mild winters considering its latitude, in part due to the influence from the Gulf Stream. With temperatures only averaging 14 °C (57 °F) in its coldest month February, so this is a great place to be for milder winters without excess. Frosts never occur other than at high altitude so unless you go looking for it you won't be affected.
Temperatures are moderate year-round and are never too hot or too cold so its a great place for agriculture if that's your interest, daily temperatures are also moderate, with only 5 °C (41 °F) difference between highs and lows. Average relative humidity remains high though at around 80% and with only 1800–1900 hours of annual sunshine it's not the sunniest of places, (Imagine Nantes in France as a comparison) although the sun is stronger in Faial because of its lower latitude.
Precipitation is plentiful especially in the winter months, averaging 1,000 mm (39 in) annually, so water shortages are rare.
Overall Faial is beautiful with stunningly clear water and lovely hidden bays. It is a tourist destination with a rich collection of historical, natural and modern attractions that attract yachts, cruise ships, tourist groups and naturalists to the hills and streets of the island. Apart from several hotels and bed & breakfasts scattered throughout the parishes, the visitor seeking sun will likely travel to the black sand beaches of Praia de Almoxarife, Conceição and Porto Pim, as well as the rock pools scattered along the coast.
Almoxarife Beach, a black volcanic sand beach in Praia do Almoxarife.
Varadouro is another popular place, known for its warmer waters, micro-climate, summer cottages and complicated salt-water pools open to the ocean.
However, please remember Faial is a remote island in the middle of the Atlantic and although it bustles with activity in the summer months, the wet winters could be a challenge for some.
All data and images courtesy of Wikipedia.